By Francis Ajuonuma
Ex-international, Ifeanyi Udeze has urged Super Eagles and S.S.C. Napoli forward, Victor Osimhen to shun racist chanters and focus on his game.
The dangling forward was subjected to racist chants (racist songbirds) in last Sunday’s Serie A match between A.S. Roma and S.S.C. Napoli which ended scoreless at the Stadio Olimpico, in Rome.
Racist chants were heard from the home fans and it has forced the Italian football authorities to commence investigations proceeding against Roma.
Udeze, while reacting to the ugly incident in a live sports radio programme, described the action of AS Roma fans as hostile, cruel, and unsportingly, aimed at disorganizing Osimhen’s concentration level on the pitch of play.
The former Super Eagles left-back, who had his professional career with top European clubs- Kavala of Greece, PAOK Thessaloniki of Greece, AEK Athens of Greece and West Bromwich Albion and England, regretted that racism has remained a very serious problem in Europe and other countries.
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“Racism is real in European football. And it has remained a very big problem to tackle in that part of the world and in some other countries as well.
“However, my advice to Osimhen is that he should shun all forms of racist chants and focus on his game,” said.
“He should understand that the racist chants directed at him are part of the opponents’ ploys to disorganize and upset him so that he could lose his concentration in the game. So, for me he should face his game and put his mind away from happenings outside the field of play,” added Udeze, who has two AFCON bronze medals around his neck and a Korea-Japan 2002 FIFA World Cup appearance.
