Balogun sympathises with Ozil

English Premier League side Brighton Hove and Albion and Super Eagles of Nigeria defender Leon Balogun
said he feels the pain former Germany and Arsenal playmaker Mesut Oezil is feeling after he decided to
quit international football.

Ozil who penned an explosive open letter retiring from the Germany national team claimed he had been
made a scapegoat and victim of political propaganda.

Ozil came in for heavy criticism after Germany’s humiliating first-round departure in Russia, their
worst World Cup performance in 80 years, which came after he was pictured alongside controversial
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Balogun claimed that in the Bundesliga there are racial rants which are targeted to black players or
inter-racial abuse toward players like Oezil.

Balogun took part in an under-16s football competition in Berlin when his dad had a row with a rival
player’s parents.
Balogun said: Even in 2018 there were racist slur towards me and Anthony Ujah at Mainz so I was not
surprised Mesut Oezil has been used as a political propaganda in Germany. Because its rampant wherever
their are issues like inter racial stuff. The World Cup stopper’s Nigerian father moved to Germany in
1966.

When Balogun finally touched down in Nigeria, he said he was assured he had made the right choice.

“My first impression of Nigeria was probably same as that of any person who has lived in Germany his
whole life: Man, it’s hot — heat like I’ve never experienced. I flew down with Anthony Ujah, a striker
playing for FC Cologne at the time. He helped me prepare for the trip a bit, too. Tips on what to do,
how to act, all that stuff. When we stepped off the plane — the craziest thing was that people knew who
I was.

Some smiled and asked for photos. I couldn’t believe it. Just as I knew that in Germany I would always
be seen as black, I assumed that in Nigeria I’d be seen as another white guy on a business trip. But
they knew me, they were happy for me. Then I knew I was meant to be a Nigerian.

“We landed in Abuja, the capital city. We were there for a few days before training started. When we
drove to practice that first day, I was listening to music. As I was listening, I saw a boy on a
skateboard on the street. He had a disability. He had to sit on the board and use his hands to get
around — something you would never see in Germany. And I just started to cry. I think, because I had
seen some of the poverty in the city — in this beautiful city, with wonderful people — that it just
sort of put things into perspective for me. It made me understand how fortunate I was to grow up in one
of the world’s greatest countries, to have the family I did. It was a humbling few days, and that boy’s
problems made mine seem so inconsequential.

“Now that Mesut has retired, there will never be another Ozil for them, they are arrogant but they feel
sober within themselves but they won’t show it.

“We are with you brother (Ozil) go ahead with your career and shine on,” Balogun said.”