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Street-boy turned pastor: Taribo West wants to win for Christ
LAGOS, Sept 1 (AFP) - Nigeria's Taribo West, a former Lagos street gangster who recently turned pastor, travels to Sydney in the hunt for another Olympic gold ... and to win more souls for Christ. The 26-year-old AC Milan defender will be in Sydney unlike several of his international teammates who have snubbed the chance to repeat their heroics of four years ago in Atlanta. For the tough-tackling defender, he owes his life to football and so he is ever willing to show his gratitude by playing the game at any oppurtunity. Taribo grew up as an "area boy" or street gangster in the tough neigbourhood of Shomolu, east of the city of Lagos. His street gang burgled homes, extorted money from passers by and generally terrorised the neigbourhood. This was despite the fact he and his gang lived only a short distance from the local police station. "Shomolu was a dangerous place, very dangerous," said Taribo of the neighbourhood he grew up in after leaving his hometown of Port Harcourt at the age of 10. "I was one of the area boys and anytime I come across them I remember the bad things we did in the past. Most of my area boy friends no longer come to me. I suspect most of them must be dead by now. If not, they would come around to extort some money from me," he told AFP. Taribo continued:"I remember that the police usually raided Shomolu because they suspect some people of dealing in hard drugs. "I didn't do drugs. I was mostly involved in street fighting and on two occasions we burgled some rich peoples homes." He saw a gang member beaten to death by fellow gangsters to know that he is not cut out for such a brutal and dangerous life. "I saw somebody I knew from Port Harcourt beaten to death by some area boys. It happened right before my eyes. I can never forget that sordid incident. "After that boy's death I fled to Port Harcourt to stay with my mother." It was this point he resolved to make a success of a career in football even though his agressive style was there to remind everyone of his tough past. "My rough childhood toughened me," he said. "After going through all these experiences nothing now seems impossible for me to do. I have got the heart of a lion." After seven years as a professional in Europe Taribo's life has turned full circle. He has started a foundation to support the poor and needy. He has also given his life to Christ and is a pastor in the little church he founded at his base in Italy.
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