Olaha talks about favorite dishes during traditional Tet holiday in Nghe An

Olaha is working hard to prepare for the new season. Photo: Duc Anh

On this occasion, Olaha shared with Nghe An Newspaper about his culinary story inSLNA Club.

PV: Can you tell us about your journey with football, especially the years you played in Vietnam?

Olaha:I was born in Nigeria, joined SLNA at the age of 17, after 3 years playing for the yellow team, I scored 29 goals in 125 appearances in the V.League. In 2019, I moved to Israel and joined Hapoel Kfar Shalem Club, scoring 11 goals in 34 matches.

3 years playing for SLNA has helped me grow up a lot both professionally and in shaping my lifestyle. It can be said that SLNA is like my second home.

PV: You have had many experiences at different clubs, so how important is nutrition for players?

Olaha:As you know, in modern football, physical fitness is an important factor that helps players play well in a match. And to maintain physical fitness, I think food plays a key role. Because during training and competition, we consume a lot of energy. Therefore, we always have to eat a special diet.

PV: SLNA has had many changes since the new sponsor took over, so in your opinion, how much attention is paid to the club's nutritional regimen for players?

The dishes at SLNA Club are diverse, prepared by highly skilled chefs. Photo: PV

Olaha:Currently, the food and beverage issue at the club has been greatly improved. The management has sought out nutritionists, chefs, and new sources of quality food to serve the players. Starting from measuring, researching, planning menus, and cooking. Therefore, I clearly feel the change and improvement. Everything is very good.

I feel very happy because the club's management pays great attention to the nutrition of the players, especially foreign players like us. That helps us eat better and I feel very secure about being here for a long time.

PV: Specifically, with the current regime that the Club has put forth, has it met the physical requirements, as well as the attractiveness of each meal?

Olaha:The menus of foreign players like us and Vietnamese players are different. Firstly, it is the taste and secondly, the difference in activity intensity and physical condition. Firstly, nutritionists will measure the necessary parameters such as height, weight, etc. From there, receive the overall training and competition plans of the head coach and coordinate with nutritionists to come up with detailed menus for each week and each day. The menus of players like us will not be as rich as everyone else's, but most of the dishes we like are available in Vietnam and Nghe An.

PV: How do you find Vietnamese food? Which dish left the biggest impression on you? Why?

Olaha:I like most foods, however, when it comes to Vietnamese food, I find that everyone enjoys it. My favorite Vietnamese dish? I don’t know what it’s called but it’s made with chicken. Oh, I remember, it’s chicken soup.

PV: If a foreign friend of yours came to Nghe An, what food would you recommend to them?

Olaha:If my friends like seafood, I will definitely introduce seafood in Vietnam to them. Because as far as I know, the source of seafood in Vietnam in general and Nghe An in particular is very rich. As for me, I only like to eat chicken.

PV: Have you ever celebrated the traditional Tet holiday in Vietnam? Do you know what dishes are indispensable during this occasion?

Olaha:I have had several Tet holidays in Vietnam, I like the atmosphere of your Tet holiday. Here, close relatives gather together, toast each other with glasses of wine in the moment of welcoming the new year. I do not know much about Vietnamese cuisine, but in my opinion, banh chung and dua han are two indispensable dishes during every Tet holiday, Spring comes. These dishes are not only delicious but also a unique cultural identity of the Vietnamese people. It will bring luck to everyone when they step together into a new year with many challenges, beliefs and hopes ahead.

PV: Coming back to SLNA Club, which you once said is your second hometown, do you have any message for Nghe An fans?

Olaha:I thank the Nghe An fans for their good feelings towards me. We will do our best in training to bring victories to the club in the new season. Entering 2022, I would like to send my best wishes to all football fans in Vietnam. I also hope that Nghe An fans will always be a solid support for us to be confident against all opponents.