Former Bendel Insurance player Benjamin Tanimu has revealed his admiration for former Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic and the current Rivers United team coordinator, Festus Austin, reports Soccernet.ng.
Tanimu, who recently debuted for the Super Eagles of Nigeria against Ghana, disclosed that he looks up to Vidic and, in the Nigerian league, the former captain of Rivers United, as his role model in the realm of defending.
He credits Austin's exceptional skills and leadership qualities, both on and off the pitch, as the primary reasons for his admiration.
Austin, renowned for his defensive prowess, retired from active football due to injury but left a lasting legacy with Rivers United, leading the team to numerous victories during his tenure.
Expressing his aspirations to Soccernet.ng, Tanimu stated, “I have always wanted to play like Festus Austin, the former captain of Rivers United. He has always been a great person, on and off the pitch, and I have had the opportunity to come close to him. He has been a great leader, so I have always wanted to play like him and be more than him if I could. So, I go with Festus Austin.”
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Austin enjoyed a successful career spanning 16 years in the Nigeria Professional Football League, securing two league titles with the Dolphins and Rivers United.
His contributions were instrumental in Dolphins' title triumph in the 2010/11 season, and he played a pivotal role in Rivers United's championship win in 2022, despite being hampered by injury.
Having started his career with Bendel Insurance, Austin joined Dolphins in 2009 before being part of the merger with Sharks FC to form Rivers United in 2016.
Although his career was marred by injury setbacks, Austin's impact on Nigerian football remains profound, with notable achievements including reaching the quarter-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup and narrowly missing out on the NPFL title in the previous season.
