Former Nigerian international footballer Etim Esin has opened up on one of the most controversial chapters of his career, admitting that disregarding timely advice from late Super Eagles captain Stephen Keshi contributed significantly to the legal troubles that nearly derailed his life in Belgium.
In a recent interview, Esin reflected candidly on his lifestyle during his time in Europe, revealing that Keshi had urged him to adopt a more disciplined and stable way of living. According to him, the football icon advised him to settle down and build a more structured personal life as a means of maintaining focus.
“Had it been I calmed down like Keshi advised me ‘Get a woman, Itimi, your life will be more stable’ I think a lot of things I didn’t do then, I would have avoided. I learned a lesson from that,” Esin said.
The former midfielder linked his off-field conduct to the incident that led to his legal battle, admitting that he was immersed in a lifestyle of frequent partying and multiple relationships, without fully understanding the stricter legal and social environment abroad.
“That was the reason I got involved in the issue, because I was living as if I was still in Nigeria, not knowing that some things I could get away with here, I couldn’t get away with there,” he explained.
Addressing the long-standing allegation, Esin maintained that the individual involved was his girlfriend at the time and denied any intentional wrongdoing. However, he acknowledged that the situation escalated after it emerged that she was underage.
“She was 16, and I never knew. When you see them, they look mature. I wasn’t aware. If I was aware, she wouldn’t have come,” he said.
He further disclosed that his own admission to the relationship, made under the belief that it was consensual, significantly weakened his legal defense.
“My lawyer even argued that I shouldn’t have accepted it. Because had I known, I would have just said I didn’t know or hadn’t slept with her. That was where I nailed myself again,” he added.
ELIJAH ADEYEMI
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