With active playing career spanning over one decade and
across three continents; Africa, Europe and Asia, the style and taste of ex-Super
Eagle wing star Tijani Babangida is simple yet classy.
Speaking with Sport & Stile recently,
Babangida, who retired from active play in 2004, takes delight in dressing
simply and stylish. “What i wear is defined by where i am, the weather and
other things. I wear what is comfortable but good. I must feel good and
comfortable with what i put on and that is what style mean to me. For instance
i cannot say i am a Jeans freak but i do wear jeans a lot when i am abroad,
that is outside Nigeria. And this choice is defined by the fact that the
weather here is hot but cooler in Europe,” explained Babangida, who shuttles
between Amsterdam (where his family resides) and Kaduna in the northern part of
the country, where he has big business interest.
The current chairman of FC Taraba said he rarely wears jeans
or other thick fabrics while in the temperate climate of Nigeria. “Here i like
to wear more of shorts or less thick fabric and if you see me anytime i am home
in Nigeria, you will always see me in shorts and shirts. My environment defines
my style”
Babandiga, who spent eight productive years with the Nigeria
national teams from 1994 to 2002, the
1996 Olympic gold, the highpoint of it all, however has a penchant for
sunglasses. “i love wearing sun shades. Though i don’t have a particular
designer, i go for what suits me and don’t think if there is a fashion
accessory i can’t be caught without, it is a sunglass. I have bought so many
that i have lost count of.”
For the former Ajax Amsterdam wing wizard, his attraction to
sophisticated, rugged and fast wonders on wheels is outstanding and defines the
automobiles in his garages, home and abroad.
“i love benz
(Mercedes Benz) cars with a passion. Must say i have a soft spot for it not
because it is cool but also rugged and fast. It is a brand for all weather. At
home and abroad i have benz brands that i find irresistible and always handy”.
TJ, as Babangida is fondly called by friends and fans is
particularly fond of one of his latest acquisitions; the Mercedes Benz CLS 500.
“it is a classy car that i love to drive”, he said simply.
According to Netcarshow.com, Mercedes Benz CLS 500 is worth
£80,645 (about N12million) and has “A classic 7-speed, 7G-TRONIC automatic
gearbox. On the road very little unsettled the ‘CLS’ in the default comfort
mode (there are three settings), it simply wafted along taking everything in
its stride. Should you wish to remove your chauffeur and drive yourself there
are two sports modes which alter the suspension setup. In the first sports
position the stiffer suspension and shock absorber settings are activated a
little earlier than in the comfort mode. In the second position there is no
delay in the activation, lowering the car by 15 mm all round. It is surprising
how composed the CLS is through the most demanding of bends. Even on our
favourite ‘B’ road you can have a lot of fun without any compromise. The speed
sensitive steering is well-weighted and gives just about the right amount of feedback
for such a large car. All of this makes
the CLS more of a capable grand tourer than an out and out sports car, but if
it is refinement you desire then few cars do it better.”
Aside from Mercedes Benz,
Babangida added that other brands in his garage are BMW and Jeep, which he
acquired out of his sentiments for severity and class.
Grand as his material acquisitions are, Babangida said his
family comes first in his scale of preference. “I love my family and they come
first to me. Material acquisition only makes life comfortable for us, but the
thing that comes above all of them is family and i love my wife and son”.
Born into a large family in the city of Kaduna, he is
married to Rabah, the sister of Daniel Amokachi's wife. “My son Ameh is fast
taking after me. At his age he’s playing football quite well and should he
continue that way, would be a bigger star than his father one day. They are the
best thing in my life,” submitted Babangida.
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