City, Spain
Santi Cañizares no be your regular ex-footballer, you know. Dis guy don dey retire from football for almost two decades now. For im last ten seasons, e dey play for Valencia after wearing Real Madrid and Celta jersey. Now, na im dey shine like star on TV and radio, dey commentate for Cadena COPE.
But make I ask you something, why dis Santi no fit dive into coaching or management for football club? E get all di experience. Na wah! (Some people just like to enjoy life, ba?)
Dis Santi, as he dey yarn for program wey dem call Despierta San Francisco for Radio Marca, e no wan carry di football wahala for im head again. E talk say, ‘By 40 years, I never chop plane to go vacation, my eyes dey focus on football. Even if I jam vacation, my mind dey for training and di next season.’ Wetin concern vacation when you fit dey hustle?
Now he don free himself from all di stress wey dey come with di job. With im long career—he hang di gloves close to 40—Santi fit finally dey enjoy di finer things for life. E dey still dey follow football, but dis time, e dey chill dey watch di game from di stands. Na im sabi win without di power of a management post. (Abeg, who no like to relax?)
But wetin really teach am to run from management? Na di summer of 2014. Valencia collect Mustafi and Otamendi, wey dem buy for around 20 million euros together. But after one year, Otamendi don land for Manchester City for about 45 million euros, and Mustafi follow go Arsenal for 40 million euros. Na so dem make big profit, my guy!
Fast forward to 2015, Peter Lim don show face for di Valencia scene, di president Amadeo Salvo and others don bounch. Wetin Cañizares no fit accept be say di guys wey sabi dey sell players for bigger money still dey show dem door. E come dey vex say, ‘If I dey dis kind situation, I go wear chaleco of explosives and just blow up.’ (Him no even dey joke, oh!)
Cañizares dey reason as him dey talk, dem dey sack people wey don work hard to make sure di team dey flourish. ‘You dey work whole year to make sure di players dey okay, dey bring money for di club… na wetin you go gain? Just pack your bag and go?’ Him mouth no dey sweet for dat one at all. ‘E be like if Zamora win Champions and dem pack dem go,’ him dey complain. Na so Cañizares dey carry di matter for mind.
