Millwall defender Danny Shittu has said he
has no regrets turning down Nigeria’s
invitation on their way to winning the 2013
Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa earlier
this month.
Coach Stephen Keshi had called up the 32
year-old defender, who played in the Super
Eagles’ 2010 World Cup squad, for final
camping in Faro, Portugal, but it was
turned down. He also played at the 2008
and 2010 editions of the Afcon in Ghana
and Angola.
Nigeria went on to win their third African
title with a team of 17 debutants at the
tournament.
“Maybe if I were 20 or 21, I would have regrets. But there have been a lot of
decisions in my life where it's either turned out good, but I won’t say bad.
Even if I had known that Nigeria [would] win the Nations Cup,” Shittu told
samumukoro.com.
“At that time, it was the best decision for me to stay. Up till today I still don’t
regret making that decision. Obviously players who maybe wouldn’t have
played if I was there got to play.
“And who knows, I could have played and we may not have won it. So I
always believe that everything happens for a reason.
“A lot of things have happened (in football and out of football) since Nigeria
won the tournament, which has made me realize that it was a good reason
for me to stay. So I’m happy for the players and the country.”
Shittu chose to stay with his club side in order to help them in their FA Cup
campaign as well as in the Championship. He also claims to have stayed
behind in order to care for his children.
“I’m a father of four kids and have a lot of personal commitment with family,
children, and other things outside of football as well, which wouldn’t have
made it right for me to have just left then and gone to the Nations Cup for six
weeks.
“Besides, I had not been involved with Nigeria for a long time before that. I
was not involved with the qualifications and stuff like that. You know, leading
up to this tournament, my life had been kind of different.
“So for me to have left these things all of a sudden to get back to playing with
Nigeria again wasn’t right for me to do at that time,” Shittu said.

Good man! Love the obviously unfeigned maturity..
Osaze my guy, borrow a leaf.

source: m.goal.com
would you regret it probably for life, if you are a Super eagles player eligible to play but was not called up or you turned down the call up to the just concluded afcon and Nigeria ended up winning.how would u feel? source: m.goal.com
would you regret it probably for life, if you are a Super eagles player eligible to play but was not called up or you turned down the call up to the just concluded afcon and Nigeria ended up winning.how would u feel?