Taribo: I Saw God One-On-One 

Legendary Nigerian defender Taribo West says he became a pastor after God appeared to him one-on-one.

West revealed this in a chat with BBC on Saturday.

The former Inter Milan star, who founded Shelter In The Storm Miracle Ministries of All Nation in 2014, explained how he met God.

“Why would I switch from being a footballer to becoming a pastor? I saw God one-on-one. That’s where my transition started; From the field to the pulpit.

“We were celebrating. In the middle of that, a woman stumbled into me and said: ‘Sir, please may I know your name?’ I said: ‘I am Mr No name’. She said: ‘May I know where you live?’ I said: ‘I live nowhere.’ She left with annoyance.

“In the twinkle of an eye, I just heard an audible voice. And it came like a slap. It said: ‘Switch, turn.’ I turned. It said: ‘Look at the woman. Look for her now and call that woman and apologise to her. I said that to you.’ That can only be a voice from God

“So I switched, like a Robocop, I start searching for the woman, and when this sister came all the way from America, she told me a lot of prophecies. And she told me in the next one or two years; I would open a church. All the prophecies she gave me came to pass.”

West represented Nigeria at two FIFA World Cups in France 1998 and Korea/Japan 2002.

He featured at two Africa Cup of Nations in 2000 co-hosted by Ghana and Nigeria and the 2002 edition in Mali.

He was a member of the U-23 Eagles that win gold in the football event at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic games.