Russia will be a great host, says Obafemi Martins
Nigerian
striker, Obafemi Martins has expressed support for the decision of
football’s world governing body, FIFA to award the hosting rights of
the 2018 World Cup to Russia.
Obafemi, who joined
Russian league champions Rubin Kazan from Wolfsburg in July says the
eastern European nation is a great choice for the tournament.
The English were
dismayed with FIFA’s decision to award the 2018 tournament to Russia
especially as they felt they were better placed to host the World Cup.
But Martins, who
played with Premier League side, Newcastle, for three seasons before
joining Wolfsburg in the summer of 2009, feels otherwise.
“Kazan is a
beautiful City on the banks of the River Volga and it is a great place
to play football,” said the 26-year-old Nigerian international in an
interview with English tabloid, The People.
“Obviously I felt
disappointed for my many friends in Newcastle that the magnificent St
James’ Park will not be having the chance to stage a World Cup game.
“But Russia is a
great choice. I have seen a video of the new stadium Rubin Kazan are
having built and which will be finished in 2017 and it is going to be a
stadium which will take people’s breath away.”
No racism
The English have
been quick to point to alleged racism in Russian football, citing the
case of West Brom’s Nigerian forward, Osaze Odemwingie.
Odemwingie, who was
born in Tashkent in present-day Uzbekistan to a Russian mother, spent
the greater part of his early years in Russia.
In July 2007, he
left French side Lille to join Russia’s Lokomotiv Moscow for an
undisclosed fee. However, in his final appearance for the Moscow club,
Odemwingie was dismayed to see a banner with the picture of a banana
unfurled proclaiming, ‘Thanks West Brom.’
In response, West
Brom fans threw their weight behind Odemwingie with a banner of theirs
proclaiming ‘Kick out racism from football.’
But Martins said he hasn’t experienced any form of racism since he moved to Russia.
“I have been welcomed here in Russia with open arms and I have never had any problems with racism,” he said.
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