Russia – based midfielder, Sani Kaita, has refused to accept the tag of ‘Escobar’ given to him by a section of the media at the World Cup in South Africa, after news emerged that he had been receiving death threats from unknown quarters in the wake of his red card in the match against Greece.
Rather than be cowed by threats to his life, Kaita said he is not in anyway disturbed by the development, with a declaration that only God will decide whether he lives or not.
Kaita was red-carded in the 33rd minute f Nigeria’s 1 – 2 loss to Greece in Bloemfontein on Thursday after he took a stamp at Olympiacos defender Vasilis Torosidis during a scuffle behind the touchline.
“Everything on this earth is in God’s hands, whether it is your life or whatever and unless God allows it, no one has the power to kill me.
“Only God knows what will happen tomorrow. He holds our destiny. That is what my religion teachers me,” the 24 – year old former Kano Pillars captain disclosed.
Kaita stressed that his situation does not compare to that of Colombia’s defender, Andres Escobar, who was shot dead back home after his own goal that go the United States of America (USA) a passage to the second round of the 1994 World cp.
Colombia’s failure to reach the second round was believed to have caused huge gambling losses to some of the country’s drug cartels, which some observes say is akin to Kaita’s situation, but the former Sparta Rotterdam defender refuses to accept.
“I won’t liken my case to that of Escobar because everyone has his destiny on this earth.” Kaita insisted.
Rather than be cowed by threats to his life, Kaita said he is not in anyway disturbed by the development, with a declaration that only God will decide whether he lives or not.
Kaita was red-carded in the 33rd minute f Nigeria’s 1 – 2 loss to Greece in Bloemfontein on Thursday after he took a stamp at Olympiacos defender Vasilis Torosidis during a scuffle behind the touchline.
“Everything on this earth is in God’s hands, whether it is your life or whatever and unless God allows it, no one has the power to kill me.
“Only God knows what will happen tomorrow. He holds our destiny. That is what my religion teachers me,” the 24 – year old former Kano Pillars captain disclosed.
Kaita stressed that his situation does not compare to that of Colombia’s defender, Andres Escobar, who was shot dead back home after his own goal that go the United States of America (USA) a passage to the second round of the 1994 World cp.
Colombia’s failure to reach the second round was believed to have caused huge gambling losses to some of the country’s drug cartels, which some observes say is akin to Kaita’s situation, but the former Sparta Rotterdam defender refuses to accept.
“I won’t liken my case to that of Escobar because everyone has his destiny on this earth.” Kaita insisted.
