FORMER NIGERIAN FOOTBALLER CONVERTS TO ISLAM

Former Nigerian footballer and Mohammedan SC coach Emeka Ezeugo
announced that he has embraced Islam after being inspired by the life
of Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him).
Emeka went to a Muslim cleric last week along with Mohammedan manager
Amirul Islam, his former team-mate Kaiser Hamid, Zaker party leader
Amir Faisal and club official Abu Hasan Prince to convert to Islam.
The former footballer, who represented Nigeria in the 1994 World Cup
after playing for Mohammedan Sporting Club for nearly a decade, said
he feels honoured to be a follower of the great prophet who he thinks
is the greatest among all messengers of god.
'I am always a curious person and studied different religions when I
found the life of Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) very
inspiring,' Emeka told New Age on Monday.
Emeka, who now has taken a new name Mustafa Mohammed, claimed that his
family has accepted his decision, though they all are members of Roman
Catholic Church.
'I am a grown up man brother. I am free to make my own decisions. None
of my family members protested the decision,' said Emeka.
Emeka, however, said that the large number of friends he made in
Bangladesh is like his family and they gave him good support in making
the decision.
'Bangladesh is my second home and I have some friends here who are
like my brothers. They helped me in making the decision,' Emeka said.
Emeka, 44, said he could not express his feeling about becoming a
Muslim and felt like a Bangladeshi and it became stronger after
converting to Islam. His life has become more disciplined as he has to
offer prayers more now and follow some other rituals of the religion.
'I have just planted a seed and now I have to nourish it into a tree.
I know that I will discover many good sides of this decision with time
but at this moment I can say the religion has made my life more
disciplined,' said Emeka.
He added that he will apply for a new passport with his new name once
he returns to his home in Nigeria.