I Sold Chin-Chin, Washed Cars To Survive-Mozez Praiz

About us National Weekender The Team

National Weekender

The Team

Paper Ad Rate

Online Ad Rate

Our Sponsors

Home

News

Politics

Crime

Business

Entertainment

Interview

Sports

Editorial

OTHERS Education Features Health Fashion Life Style Column

Education

Features

Health

Fashion

Life Style

Column

Posted by: REMI SULOLA in Interview , Latest News , Slides May 23, 2014 0 430 Views

He is one of the most recognized faces on sports TV in Nigeria and Africa. Mozez Praiz is a true professional Sports Presenter whose delivery on TV is absolutely smooth, especially his passion when presenting the only TV Show that packages the Nigerian League professionally like it’s done in the biggest Soccer loving Countries in the World. The show is called Naijamade . Mozez has been with SuperSport since inception and regularly travels weekly to cover Matches all over Nigeria in spite of the great hazards involved.

In this exclusive interview, with our correspondent REMI SULOLA, Mozez opens up without holding back on his life and Career. How true are stories that he grew up from a family of Millionaires, how did he come by the SuperSport job, he’s got so many female admirers apparently due to his very handsome, tall and adorable persona, how does he deal with the damsels, how did he meet his wife and how does his wife cope with the lack of privacy that his job brings, what goes with the huge challenges that covering the Nigerian League brings in these delicate security times? Mozez answers these questions and more, including the peculiarity of his name.

Privileged To Be On SuperSport

I wouldn’t know how to quantify this rare privilege, but I’m ultimately thankful that I get to build a career via this powerful brand called SuperSport.

Why I Don’t Support European Teams

I love to see any and everything Nigerian do well. There’s a stigma about us that is so negative and that nothing good can come out of us. I hold a different opinion and it’s expressed in d NPFL. That’s why I don’t have any team I support in Europe or anywhere else. I support the Nigeria league through and through and want to do all I can in any way to see it rise to a credible position. I want it better than the good old days. Where it becomes the destination for foreign players to ply their trade in and prosper career-wise and financially.

Huge Challenges Covering Nigerian League Live

Logistics of covering live games itself is so challenging because of d structure of the country. Road network, flight issues and not forgetting the league body trying to keep things steady and stable. We haven’t allowed that to deter our commitment as a company. We are here for the long haul and with cooperation of the League administrators and stakeholders, we will see progress. The show Naija Made is one of the ways we see ourselves creating a global appeal and identity for the NPFL. I have the singular honour of working with some of the best hands and heads production-wise and as pundits. Its appeal on the Continent is quite appreciable and we hope this continues and of course our league is better off for it.

Role Conflict: TV And Radio

Fortunately, it’s just 3 days a week; then again it’s the issue of my frequent travels to cover NPFL games around the country. So, I used the opportunity while the league was in recess and I was constantly on the show to raise young fellows with drive for excellence (since it’s my pursuit), a passion for the game and a heart to learn and trained them a little on ethics of broadcasting, so you don’t have a bunch of overzealous fellows who think they have an “opinion”, but aren’t trained on how to deliver such opinions. This I have been doing for 17months now. So, in my absence, they run the show and they’ve gained acceptability from the listeners which rocks.

Modeling Career

I modeled actively for years here and in South Africa. Africa’s new ambassador. Hopefully, I will be on the runway after 7yrs for a fashion show in Lagos in May. I’ve always been a fashionable person, but I’m crudely casual and like been so. I don’t wanna call attention to myself that’s why I tone my dressing down mostly.

Female Admirers As Distraction

(He laughs) I get that question all the time. I don’t see female admiration as a distraction. I’m barely out for social reasons. I’m very homely, so it’s only if I’m out there in public glare that one can get into trouble. Again, my orientation is very different. I have utmost respect for the opposite sex and that is seen in how I perceive and treat them. I got two daughters, so I’d expect them to be treated as queens if you catch my drift.

Wife And Loss Of Privacy

I believe she’s learnt over time that we may not have as much privacy, mostly when we are out, but we have our moments no doubt. And when with her, I try to minimize the distraction as best as I can. I have no idea! I don’t think people are that interested in me I guess. (He laughs again), but my family is sacred and I won’t want unnecessary attention on them.

How I Met My Wife

My wife is very reserved and homely. She would rather be home than hang out (that is not to say she doesn’t hang out at all). She is awesomely beautiful and very intelligent. We met in my church. We were members of the youth group called the Resource Interlink. Before you ask, I attend The Resource church. We dated for almost 2yrs before we got married in 2006. Got two daughters aged 7 and 5.

Why Mozez Praiz?

Real birth name is Mozez Praiz. You all should get use to it you know. I know a lady named Mary Drinkwater. I dare not ask why she has a surname as Drinkwater. It’s my name, not a stage name, not an alias, but my name. I can fax you my birth certificate if it’ll clear the matter and it’s not true that I am not a Nigerian, I am Nigerian through and through.

Role As Father

I try to create time for them. When I’m around and not globetrotting I take them to school and we chat. When I travel, we talk on phone and just catch up. They even call into my radio show at times. And once a while I take them to the radio station and we hang out after that

Humble Beginning

Oh my! I had very humble beginnings. First of nine children, feeding was hell. After I left secondary school, worked at a car wash, sold chin-chin and detergents for my mum on the streets, aside other menial tasks that I got paid with food! So forget whatever millionaire story you heard. My beginning was pretty tough, but it’s a process I’m grateful to God for. It instilled a lot of values and principles in me, a few of which is to never be wasteful and most importantly

Education I Studied Mass communication at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, I also did some courses in Cinematography, Editing, set Design at ITPAN on 2001.

Getting SuperSport Magic Job

It started in an interesting fashion. I was part of a reality TV show and the head of the production team told me they’d like to have me on board when the project they were in kick started (SuperSport). I joined SuperSport as Production Coordinator, moved on to be a Floor Manager and when the Presenter then got promoted, I got moved on to being a Presenter. So, I started swimming in the deep end of the pool.

SuperSport Ideals

High level of professionalism, good welfare packages for sports journalists, good working relationship with the private sector rather than total reliance on Government.

Favourites

My favourite colour is blue, red and white while my favourite food is beans, dodo and fried turkey or fish.

If He Was Not A Broadcaster

I still would have ended up in broadcasting. I love what connects me to people.

Minimum Wage Crisis: FG, Senate Must Be Proactive December 18, 2015

LOVELINKS WITH AUNTY ROSE 70 3 days ago

Who is most suitable for the position of Senate President?

Saraki

Goje

Akume

View Results

Popular

Recent

Comments

HOTLINKS WITH ROSE 36 March 27, 2015

NANS warns against removal of fuel subsidy May 4, 2015

Sola Sobowale kicks against nudity in entertainment industry, says it’s disrespectful May 11, 2015

Buhari, Welcome To The Jungle! May 30, 2015

We’ll allow APC elect Senate President – PDP June 3, 2015

We’ll Spare Nothing To Rescue Kidnapped School Girls – Ambode 4 days ago

NDDC: Governor Wike seeks greater contribution of states in projects conception 4 days ago

JAMB Releases Over 200,000 Results 4 days ago

PDP chairman, Sheriff, appoints aides 4 days ago

Ehrunj Okpamen via Facebook: Saraki, saraki Nigerians will neva change...

Oiko Emmanuel via Facebook: Just sharing my own ideas on model way of policing. I read i...

Vinpsalms Testimony via Facebook: again?...

Vinpsalms Testimony via Facebook: ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha u never see anytin...

Olioku Chibuzor via Facebook: He is prisoner of conscience...