While many footballers struggle financially after their playing career, former Orlando Pirates midfielder Onyekachi Okonkwo is building an impressive business empire.
Okonkwo was a stubborn midfielder whose authoritative play was always noticeable back then and it was no surprise that he then moved on to Swiss club FC Zurich where he played UEFA Champions League football.
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After that, the Nigerian was enticed by the financial carrot that was dangled by Al Kharaitiyat SC from Qatar club before returning to spend time in South Africa again playing for Pirates and Mpumalanga Black Aces.
From there, Okonkwo moved to Malta and the Italy where he last played in the lower divisions for Cortona.
While many a former footballer is struggling to make ends meet, the 41-year-old still carries his trademark smile.
"I have just recently opened a new restaurant which has started off well and is located in an upmarket area of Lagos here in Nigeria," Okonkwo tells KickOff.
"This is an inter-continental restaurant which also offers all varieties of African dishes, so it is all encompassing.
"The restaurant has been designed to cater for those who want to have a sit in experience, takeaway services, and delivery to those who want to eat their food in the comforts of their homes.
"At present, I have 12 employees in the restaurant based on what we do and obviously the idea is to grow the business as well.
"Based on our standards here in Lagos, this restaurant which is named Ninod is in a mall like Sandton City," says Okonkwo.
Two years ago, Okonkwo disclosed his real estate interests to this publication stating how he has never had to take out loans but used savings from his earnings in football.
The retired midfielder still runs the Nino Group of Companies.
"In that real estate space, we are still building and selling like we have been doing for years now because there is always a demand for new property in the developing world.
"We also buy and sell.
"It is business as usual based on the opportunities that come our way, but our portfolio shows we have done multiple projects here in Nigeria," says Okonkwo.
"I have absolutely no complaints to make about what has happened since I stopped playing football because I still the same life if not better.
"When I played football, I always knew that it would end and always kept that in mind with whatever I did.
"I always thought about what I will have to do past my football playing days because I knew that I would have to do other things to survive which is what I'm now doing.
"When I played football, I saved money when I played in Qatar where I made a lot of money.
"This is the money that I knew would then sustain me past my football playing days and is the reason why I'm still living good up to this day.
"I'm always open to talking to any former footballer about business ideas because I wish for all of us to be able to still live after playing football.
"What is always important to remember is that football is a short career, so it is important to always plan ahead," says Okonkwo, who still commutes between Nigeria and Europe.
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