Former Super Eagles defender, Taribo West, has opened up about a life-changing spiritual experience that prompted him to leave professional football and fully embrace life as a pastor.
In an interview with the BBC, Taribo, famous not only for his solid performances on the pitch but also for his signature colorful braided hairstyle recalled the divine encounter that shifted his life trajectory from the football field to the pulpit.
According to him, it all began during a celebration event, when a seemingly random encounter with a woman turned into a spiritual awakening. West explained that during the celebration, a woman approached him and asked for his name. In a dismissive tone, he replied, “I am Mr. No Name.” When she asked where he lived, he sarcastically responded, “I live nowhere.” Offended, the woman walked away.
But what happened next stunned him.
“In the twinkle of an eye, I heard a loud, audible voice, it felt like a slap. The voice said, ‘Switch, turn.’ I turned. Then it said, ‘Look for that woman. Find her now and apologize. I said that to you,’” he recounted.
West said the clarity and power of the voice left no doubt in his mind that it was a divine instruction. “That could only be the voice of God,” he added.
Driven by the voice, he began searching for the woman like a “Robocop.” When he finally found her, he offered an apology, which opened the door to an unexpected spiritual encounter. The woman, who had traveled from the United States, delivered a series of prophecies about his future.
“She told me things that nobody else could’ve known. She said in a year or two, I would open a church—and it all came to pass. Every word she spoke happened,” Taribo revealed.
He continued, “People ask me why I left football to become a pastor. The answer is simple: I saw God one-on-one. That’s when my transition started.”
Since then, Taribo West has dedicated his life to ministry, founding his own church and often speaking about his transformation from athlete to servant of God.
