Sport
Chelsea star Obi Mikel’s father abducted in Nigeria
Chelsea Star., Jon Obi Mikel
Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has made an emotional appeal after his father was abducted in his native Nigeria.
The 24-year-old Nigeria international played in Sunday’s season-opening 0-0 draw at Stoke City despite knowing his father Michael was abducted on Friday.
In an interview with Sky Sports News, Mikel said: “We haven’t heard anything, no phone calls, nothing.
“Whoever has got my dad or knows where my dad is please contact me and hopefully he will be released. Please let him go, my dad is an old man and he hasn’t done any harm to anyone as far as I know and I don’t know why he has been taken.
“This happens a lot, not in the northern part of Nigeria but in the eastern part. It’s a very safe place where we live in Jos, I think it’s a first that my father has been taken in the northern part,” the midfielder added.
Chelsea have given Mikel their support in a statement on their official website.
“Everyone at Chelsea Football Club was very concerned to hear that John Mikel Obi’s father has been reported as missing and possibly abducted.
“We will give Mikel and his family our full support at this most difficult time.”
Mikel, who has never managed a Premier League goal for Chelsea, came close to scoring against Stoke with a long-range volley that goalkeeper Asmir Begovic tipped over the crossbar.
“It was really difficult. I spoke to the manager (Andre Villas-Boas) who asked me if I wanted to play the game and I said I wanted to play,” explained Mikel who joined Chelsea in 2006 and won a league winner’s medal last year.
“I didn’t want to let my team down or the club down or my family. If I didn’t play I think my mum would have been very sad with me.
