Dribbling for the Win

For most of us, the adrenaline supply at a Football stadium comes second to nothing in this world. The cheering, the screaming, the laughter and the crying becomes part of every game. In the past few months, we may have been robbed of this feeling. Since the games have started again, the long dry spell is finally over. The I-leagues Second Division, which was postponed due to the pandemic might also kickstart in September. Our guest this month happens to be the current top scorer of this season’s game from Garhwal FC. Born on the coastal side of Nigeria, 26-year-old Ekomobong Victor Philips has come a long way. He grabbed all the attention when he scored three goals in a match against the ATK-Mohan Bagan club and made his team, Garhwal FC, qualify for the finals of I-League Second Division. As a big believer in God, he thinks everything in life is the result of hard work and god’s will. Edited excerpts follow...

When was the first time you played football and how did you make it a profession?

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I think I was 4 years old when I started playing football. I used to play with my dad and I grew up with boys from Germany, Ireland, Scotland who loved playing football. Because I was just a young kid playing with older boys, a white woman came to warn me “Don’t play with these guys they will kick you” but the big guys let me play so I never stopped. Then I started playing for my school team. By the time I reached 14 years of age, I got selected for the state team and then in college, I started playing national leagues in Nigeria, Europe and other countries.

As a player who spends so much being away from home, how has your experience in India been like, do you still miss home?

Home is home. I miss my friends and family, I miss the food. It has been three years since I first came to India. At first, I used to play for FC Kerala and that was also pretty great. I think you meet good and bad people in every country but in India, I have mostly met good people like my teammates to treat me with respect. As far as food is concerned, I love Biryani. It is my favourite.

Since you have played many national leagues, what do you think about the I-league in India?

I feel I-leagues have given an opportunity to so many young players of India and other parts of the world. They have got the chance to develop their game. The teams like FC Punjab and Mohan Bagan club are doing a really great job, even my club. It is encouraging when clubs take care of their players. Even during the pandemic, the clubs are paying their players and I think its a very good thing.

Have you always been the one to strike or did you start with some other position on the field?

I started playing among white guys so they mostly let me do goalkeeping. I used to dribble the ball from time to time. I remember in college, I got to play at as striker for the first time and I loved it. It has been so many years and I only want to be on the striker’s end because I love scoring goals.

What would you say about your game model?

My only game model is to be positive about winning. No matter what team I am playing against and how good their players, I focus on the scoreboard and strike goals.

You said you have been playing since you were 14 years old. In this long career, you must have had many joyful moments on the field. Which would you call your proudest one?

One of the proudest moments of my career was the match we played against ATK-Mohan Bagan team in march. We had to qualify for the finals and we were playing against a very strong team. Being a striker, I had everyone dependent on me. I started scoring one goal after another and from 1-0 our score we won with a score of 4-0. I was so happy to see my teammates cheering for me, fans cheering for me. It was a great moment, we qualified for the finals.

The pandemic has really affected sports scene around the globe. How has been for you on a personal level?

There is no doubt that I miss playing but this pandemic break has also been a blessing in some ways. Earlier I used to be busy taking flights from one place to another, playing continuous matches. In the last three-four months, I got time to work on myself a lot, I have been training continuously and also been doing a lot of bible reading. I think I needed time to renew myself. Even other members of the team who got injured got enough time to recover well and spend time with their families. Now I think we all have taken enough rest and I can’t wait to play again. here and there.

Tell us about your Football idol or someone you get inspiration from.

I don’t really have an idol, I do study many players but I want to develop my own game. There are some players I respect a lot like Ronaldo. He is the guy who works hard and loves the competition. He doesn’t care about what other people say or think, he just wants to score and win. He has set the best example for young players like me. I also admire other players such as Reuben, Messi and Victor Moses.

Part of being a football fan is having heated arguments defending your favourite clubs, as a player yourself; do you ever find yourself in such a situation?

I don’t really pick favourites when it comes to clubs. They all have their different game and I love all of them.

Who is Ekom Philips if not a Footballer?

I play the guitar and I also sing but I picked up football so early in life that I don’t think anything else will replace it. Let’s see what happens in the future.

Speaking of the future, what are your plans in terms of your game?

God is going to help me. I definitely want to play International games. I also wish to be part of some of the clubs like Chelsea and Manchester United in London. I believe I can play championships and the world cup. As far as I am willing to do that hard work, which I am going to, everything is possible.

From the August 2020 issue of FHM India.