Former Super Eagles midfielder, Sani Kaita says he’s happy to represent Nigeria at all levels, despite the circumstances that led to his exit from the national team.
Sani Kaita was part of Nigeria’s U-20 team that shone like a million stars at the 2005 world cup in the Netherlands, where the team finished second.
The former As Monaco midfielder was also a member of the silver medal-winning team at the 2008 Olympics games in Beijing.
However, the good adventure in the color of Nigeria took another dimension, when he became the first Nigerian to be sent off at FIFA senior world cup.
It would be recalled that Kaita was shone a straight red after kicking out of Greek player Valisis Torosidis in Nigeria’s second group game, which ended in a 2-1 defeat.
The unfortunate incident led to a total discourse between Keita and Super Eagles fans, and he struggled to win them over since, but the 34-year-old insisted he’s happy to be at the world cup.
“Playing at the World cup is something that I’m still proud of, playing for Nigeria for me is ahead of playing for the biggest clubs in the world,” Kaita told www.brila.net in an exclusive interview.
“I played from the U20, U23 to the senior team, it’s really massive for me and I’m still grateful for that.”
“I don’t know what happened exactly, what I saw on television is what I can see, but whatever happens, I try to pick positivity out of it, been at the world cup is something, I’m still proud of, that’s the most important thing for me.” he told www.brila.net.
On whether the result of the game could have been different if he wasn’t sent, Keita said, football is a cruel sport that no one can predict the outcome, but he said regretted letting his teammates and the entire nation down at that crucial period.
“For me, everyone has his or her opinion, but my opinion is, I made a mistake and got sent off, but that doesn’t if I stay on the pitch we are going to win the game, I don’t know, because this is football.”
“We are just on the pitch is to give our best, so I don’t what if we are going to win, draw or lose, but all we can do is to give 100 percent,” he told www.brila.net.
“Of course, I know that Nigerians love football, and when we go out, we have to give our 100 percent, even the fans are giving 100 percent, so you will always feel sorry for your mistakes and apologize.” He concluded.
