Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has revealed his fondness for the Turkish song “Yarim Yarim” by Hasibe Turhan, Soccernet.ng reports.
The track, which was Hasibe’s third single, went viral in May 2019, catapulting her into the limelight and leading to a deal with AYE Music in June 2019.
During this time, Osimhen joined LOSC Lille from Belgian side Charleroi, where he first heard the song thanks to his Turkish teammate Yusuf Yazıcı, who introduced it during training sessions.
Reflecting on the song, and snubbing artistes like Olamide, Wizkid and Burna Boy, Osimhen shared his excitement about the possibility of having it played every time he scores a goal for Galatasaray, which adds a unique flair to his celebrations.
“It’s something from Lille; a Turkish teammate (Yusuf Yazıcı) played it in training. I liked the melody and even have a video of it. It would be thrilling for me to have it played every time I score a goal!” he stated, as quoted by Extra Futbol.
Osimhen has also expressed his love for Nigerian artists, particularly Olamide, and has listened to Nas and Bob Marley as part of his pre-game music rituals.
“During my spare time before the game, I listen to Olamide’s rap. There are some recent tracks he’s done that are really inspirational to me. Olamide is my best musician in Nigeria, and I have a playlist dedicated to his songs.
“Before I go to team meetings, I say my prayers. Then, while I’m on the team bus, I listen to Nas and Damian Marley’s ‘Only the Strong Survive.’
“When I listen to these songs, I mentally prepare myself for battle on the pitch. ‘Only the Strong Survive’ means I want to win; I don’t want to lose. These are the songs that psych me up to elevate my game.” Osimhen previously said in an interview with Pooja.
Interestingly, Osimhen’s preference for “Yarim Yarim” over other trending Nigerian musicians reflects his effort to embrace Turkish culture, making his stay in Turkey all the more comfortable.
