Osimhen’s lookalike: I play football to make people happy, to make my mom proud – Chibuike Charles Samson
…….People rush to take pictures with the mindset that they have seen Osimhen
…….I’ll try my best not to allow Doma United go into relegation
…..if I was not playing football, I would have become a dancer
Doma United FC striker, in this interview with CHIMA AZUBUIKE & LARABA JOHNSON x-rays, his football career, family background and other sundry issues.
Can you give us your brief background?
My name is Chibuike Charles Samson, I’m from Enugu State born and brought up in Minna Niger State. I am 19 year-old-old.
I studied Social Development in Kaduna Polytechnic in Sabo. I finished my National Diploma and after that I started my HND programme which I couldn’t finish. I played football for my school but I wasn’t serious about football then because I felt school should be first but realising that school is not actually in me I chose to take football serious.
You scored for Doma United on your NPFL debut. How did it feel grabbing the headlines?
I feel privileged and happy to be in Doma United and I feel so happy about our victory and I feel this is just a starting point for me to work harder and not to relax and also an opportunity for me to do more
Not much is known about you. Can you tell us about your football career, previous clubs etc?
My previous football career is a big history, I started in minna precisely Pakungo I started playing football at the age of three to four years whenever I go to play football my mum will be so upset with me to the extent of not serving me food because she was afraid of me getting hurt because there are bruises all over my leg and she felt football is not something important, that I was just wasting my time so for that reason she always wants to stop me from playing but despite all the challenges I still kept the fire burning in me.Although when I started playing I don’t even have a boot of my own, I use my bare foot to play football. After that I entered Kaduna State to meet someone and he asked me to do better by going to to school at Dosa Academy in Kaduna, the man so much believed in me because when I was playing there was no confidence in me and I can only play comfortably with my friends aside. He built my confidence and took me to different states in Nigeria which include; Oyo, Kwara, Lagos states etc and I played with so many football teams in Nigeria.
I played triple forty four in Ibadan which did not work out well even after giving my best by scoring four goals the first day but yet I was not selected. I kept trying my best but it wasn’t working so I concluded that the place was not meant for me so I came back to Lagos. I played my amateur in Lagos and I met a man and his name is Chop money, a football agent in Lagos. He took me to Depros FC in Lagos and that was were I started building up my career and with time left there and travelled to Enugu, Abia comment to play a PRO, during the Pre season I played different matches with them I played with Abia Warriors. I came in second half after scoring us two goals and immediately I came in I equalised the goals and from there I met another football agent and he helped me and took me to the Premier league that was my first kick to MFM in Lagos. I started having fans in MFM FC immediately after the game and some were saying I am osimhen’s brother because we lookalike and I was so excited and throughout my screening process I kept scoring for my team and they retained me. During the second season I was always on bench, I hardly play match and I don’t know where the problem came from and somehow i regretted why I agreed to stay with them and I wished I was in Abia comment.
Why did you refuse some offers?
The reason why I refused to accept some of the offers is because it will take me away from my boss which I don’t want to happen because he stood by me through thick and thin so everything have to pass through him before coming to me when it comes to signing me in a team because I am very loyal to him because he is the one that showed me to the world and his name is Dosa.
Why were you benched in your early career?
During the end of the season a new coach came and we had a match with Akwa United and he was asking why I always remained on the bench despite the fact i know how to play very well. My response was if a club management is not in good term with you they will prefer someone that you are far better than to play the match. I show cased my talent in Akwa United and I said to my self this people must know me today because I picked up challenges any slightest opportunity that is given to me I make sure I make use of it.
What were fan’s reaction?
So after the match I started receiving calls from different people that wants to work with me but I kept them on pending because I needed to take my time. We travelled to kwara, have a lot of fans there and I was so happy about their reactions towards me. I play football to make people happy and to make my mom proud.
Did you get the needed breakthrough immediately?
After the season I was passing through a lot of disappointments and setbacks but I still refused to give up on my career before I got the opportunity to come to doma United.
Why did you opt to join Doma United FC?
I opted to join Doma because is a newly promoted team and I found the team very interesting and I believe something good is coming out of Doma and I’m not regretting anything.
First time in Gombe for soccer business?
No, I played pre season match for Gombe United FC and I also signed with them but couldn’t continue due to some reasons.
What are your objects for the season?
My object for the season is to give my best and score as many goals as I can.
And we are trying our best to work as a team to equalise and I will try not to make Doma United go into relegation God’s willing.
As a striker, have you set any goals target for yourself?
I’ve set goals target for my self any time I set my foot in the field I want to score at least four goals.
You have a striking resemblance with Napoli striker Victor Osimhen. How does this make you feel?
It makes me happy that I have a striking resemblance with Napoli and it makes me happy personally, I didn’t notice but since I arrived Kaduna people were asking whether I am osimhen and I always tell them no, to some extent whenever people see me in the market they will rush and start snapping pictures with me in fact including non Nigerians.
Does he inspire you with his goals and do you model your game after his?
Osimhen inspires me alot, people say I play like him but the truth is I hardly watch him then, and when I started I picked up a challenge to work hard and play like him because he is a very good player but I still believe I can do better.
What are your ambitions as a footballer?
My ambition is to go to the top level seeing the world top players. I believe one day I am going to be like them with hard work I will get there.
Do you think your goals can help keep Doma in the NPFL?
Goals count in every competition and every league Gods willing we will get there and my goals will help.
Have you been mistaken for Osimhen before? If yes, please tell us what/how it happened
Several times, I have some few embarrassing moments because of my resemblance with Osimhen, sometimes guys will be asking me to question my mum about it because the resemblance is too much so most at times I feel bad about it. Some have asked if my mother loseguard and took in for Osimhen’s father but I always let them that my mother will do no such thing
How tough is the NPFL?
NPFL is tough because everyone is depending on you to give your best and imagine what will happen when you are not giving your best. One needs to work harder because I don’t want to disappoint my fans though no one is perfect but I believe with God we can do it.
If you were not a football player, what other career would you have pursued?
I will be a dancer if I’m not a footballer because I love dancing, particularly leg work. Because when ever I score a goal I dance in the field after football dancing is one of my best hobby and also my family members are dancers too.
How juicy is your deal with Doma United FC?
Doma is giving the best! This is in terms of support and I am giving them my best too because hard work comes first before money.
How are you giving back to the Society?
I like giving and for that reason my fans love me because my hand is always open and ready to give whenever I am with money you will notice because I believe giving brings luck so to my community. To Kaduna State, they should be ready for goodnews because a lot of people there helped me and I can’t forget them no matter what. Enugu should expect great things from me and Minna should expect the big better from me.
How proud is your mother today regarding your success, following her dislike for your involvement in football activities?
My mom is a business woman and she is very proud of me now despite been against football from the start but now she’s happy about it.
I always post my mom before and after match and I got her a bigger plasma TV yesterday. She always prays for me before I play any match and I also placed her on salary.
What are your plans to harness international deals?
I have plans to move abroad.
Best career moment?
Best moment of my career was on 15th of January 2023 because the love was much I couldn’t even sleep because I was so excited.
Worst moment in life?
Worst moments are days that I can’t find anything to eat, days that I begged for food and days that I can’t send money to my mum.
What is your fitness routine like?
I have my personal training session in the morning, I do press up, jog and also dance for the leg. I like doing secret work outs. I run with tyre too.
What are your hobbies?
My hobbies are music, football, and dancing.
Favourite meal?
My favourite food is beans in fact anything that has beans in it is what I love eating.
Who is your football Idol?
My football idol is osimhen.
CHAN is ongoing and Nigeria didn’t qualify. How does this make you feel?
It hurts me that Nigeria couldn’t qualify for chan I always want to play for my country and I know definitely a day will come that I will tell some people that they could have given me a chance long ago because I tried national team but couldn’t work out. I wish I was there to help my country.
What are the challenges hampering sports development?
We are lacking opportunities in helping youths, we need to be loyal and honest to our selves if you really want to help me I will give you my best the only thing now left for to do is give me a better platform to show case or self. If you know who can do it better then don’t be selfish give the opportunity to the right person and stay away from favouritism just give the best player the chance to show case his talent. My previous club that dropped me had it been they gave me better opportunity I could’ve been more than the way I am currently.The sky is my limit because of the way I play and the way I dedicate my self to play for my team and I will continue to do my best with the help of God and the people around me.
Message to fans?
To my fans everything I am saying here is nothing but the truth I’ve suffered a lot and seeing me were I am today is by God’s help and also so many people around me and I really want to appreciate everybody most especially those people that fed me and also those who impacted one or two things in my life because without them I could not have been where I am today God bless my fans they keep me pushing because the more they believe in me, the more I believe in my self. I want to thank my managers, my family, media and everybody. I really appreciate I love everyone.
