Drogba made me support Chelsea – Tolu Obanro

Tolu Obanro, the award-winning music composer behind the soundtracks for "Gangs of Lagos" and "Jagun Jagun," maintains a rigorous schedule that includes both his creative work and a deep passion for football. Obanro dedicates his Saturdays to playing football, even traveling outside Lagos for matches with his team, ECWA football club. He trains regularly and values the sport for helping him stay physically fit.

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My Saturdays are usually free, and I don’t joke with my Saturday morning football. Sometimes I go out of Lagos to even play matches because I play for a football team, and I train regularly.

Obanro's connection to football runs deep, stemming from a childhood dream of becoming a professional player. Around ages 16 and 17, he was close to joining the U-17 team after a coach showed interest. However, his family's strong emphasis on education led him to change schools, diverting his path from a potential football career. His family initially preferred a traditional 9-5 career, especially given his degree in Petroleum Engineering, but they have since come to support his artistic endeavors.

His passion for football has led to significant moments, including a broken leg at a young age that required surgery and hospitalization. Despite the injury, Obanro continued to play, representing his primary and secondary schools, as well as his department at the Federal University of Science and Technology, Minna. During his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year, he played against Bayelsa United, an experience that even influenced his posting to the capital city.

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Yes, I wanted to become a footballer because I played really well when I was younger, around 16 and 17. There was a time I almost joined the U-17 team because they were screening close to my school.

When discussing his support for Chelsea Football Club, Obanro cites the signing of Didier Drogba and the presence of other Black players as key factors that drew him to the team. While he admired other players like Hernan Crespo, Arjen Robben, and Joe Cole, Drogba's impact was pivotal. Reflecting on the team's current performance, Obanro notes that while he once felt proud of his club, particularly during Eden Hazard's era, he now watches football more casually, finding the team's recent performance occasionally stressful.

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I had a lot of clubs I admired then, but because Chelsea signed Drogba, I started supporting them, and there were a lot of black guys in the team.