Drogba Made Me a Chelsea Fan

Award-winning music composer Tolu Obanro, renowned for creating the soundtracks of blockbuster movies Gangs of Lagos and Jagun Jagun, speaks to ABIODUN ADEWALE about his passion for football, his journey as a Chelsea supporter and more

How do you unwind when you are neither composing nor recording?

My Saturdays are usually free, and I don’t joke with my Saturday morning football. Sometimes I go out of Lagos to even play matches because I play for a football team, and I train regularly. That’s ECWA football club, which was first owned by the church. We do play organised friendly matches against teams like First Bank, and we also play some other competitions. My club knows the type of work I do, so they take me as a partial member and allow me to play. Thanks to football, I’ve been able to keep my shape physically as well.

You still combine football with your career, does that mean you’ve wanted to become a footballer while growing up?

Yes, I wanted to become a footballer because I played really well when I was younger, around 16 and 17. There was a time I almost joined the U-17 team because they were screening close to my school. The coach took an interest in me, but my school was changed after I told my parents I wanted to give it a try. My family doesn’t believe in anything outside education. Until recently, they still wanted to see me as a normal 9-5 oil company kind of person because I studied Petroleum Engineering. But right now, they are aligning with the vision of what I am doing.

What are the fond memories you have while playing football?

I played football a lot while growing up. At a very tender age, I already broke my leg while running after a football. They told me the ball got into the drainage, and I jumped into it as well and had an injury. As a result, I had surgery, spent months in the hospital, and I started playing again after I got better. I didn’t stop playing football because of that, and I played for my primary school, Anthony Nursery and Primary School in Lokoja, Kogi State. I also played for my secondary school and my department at the Federal University of Science and Technology, Minna. During NYSC, I remember playing against Bayelsa United in Yenagoa. In fact, I was actually posted to the capital city because of football.

When did you start supporting Chelsea, and how is the feeling these days?

I had a lot of clubs I admired then, but because Chelsea signed Drogba, I started supporting them, and there were a lot of black guys in the team. There were other players like Hernan Crespo, Arjen Robben, Joe Cole and many others who also made me like them. These days, Chelsea is breaking hearts. The last time I could say I’m proud of my club was during the days of Eden Hazard. Right now, I just watch football because there was a time Chelsea could give me a heart attack. But now, I’ve given up. Anything they play, I just accept.

After this season’s disappointment, what would you consider an achievement for Chelsea next season?

I don’t think there will be a major achievement for Chelsea unless there is consistency and they deliver more than the mentality they have at the moment. They need to win games back-to-back and overcome the spirit of complacency.

So, if you were to make a body of work from the Super Eagles’ highs and lows over the years, what would it sound like?

The theme will be a blend of sad and happy orchestration of the two stanzas of the national anthem. It would be emotional and inspiring.

What about Chelsea?

That is really going to be funny because it will be like this aiye le oo ibosi ooo (meaning the theme will be that of a cruel world).