Home boy, Bello Kofarmata thinks big

From a humble beginning with Kano Hilton FC of Kano, Bello Kofarmata has grown into a star player who has indeed made a mark on both local and international scene. Already a veteran of the domestic league, the player who now plies his trade with Heartland FC of Owerri is an idol to many upcoming […]

From a humble beginning with Kano Hilton FC of Kano, Bello Kofarmata has grown into a star player who has indeed made a mark on both local and international scene. Already a veteran of the domestic league, the player who now plies his trade with Heartland FC of Owerri is an idol to many upcoming Footballers in Kano State.

“I started from Pepsi Academy Kano. From there I played for a local club in Kano called Kano Hilton. After Hilton, I joined Buffaloes now FC Abuja. I was later invited to play for U-17 and then the national U-20 team that represented Nigeria at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Egypt”.

Although concerted efforts by most premier League clubs in Nigeria to take Bello away from Kano proved futile, at the end of last football season, it did not take much persuasion for the talented player to move to Owerri where he is plying his trade with Heartland FC.

“I wanted to change environment. After playing for Kano Pillars for three to four years, I needed to move elsewhere. Moreover, there are more prospects now in Heartland than Pillars. Heartland will be playing continental and that is good for my game. I want to play Champions League because I want my game to continue to improve.

“When I went back to Kano to receive my car which Kano State governor gave to us for winning the League, the reception was good. I left Pillars in peace and there is no cause for the fans to be hostile towards me. Most of my fans are from Kano and they still love me. My heart is still with Pillars but I made the move to improve my career. At the moment, I am enjoying myself in Owerri”.

Although he is yet to move abroad as his contemporaries like Sani Kaita, the Kano State born footballer is still optimistic that he will be there one day. “It does not affect my game in any way because I believe that there is time for everything. It is a matter of time. When my time comes, it will not be difficult for me to move abroad.

For Kofa-matar, playing for the country in the international friendly against the Leopards of Congo was a dream come true and he hopes to continue to impress the new technical crew of the Super Eagles for a chance to be in South Africa as part of the national team.

“We played very well and scored five goals which is not a mean achievement. You will agree with me that in recent times, Eagles have been winning but have not been scoring so many goals. Therefore, for us to score five goals is fulfilling. It is a moment we home based players have been waiting for. It is now time for us to justify the confidence being reposed in us by the present technical crew of the Super Eagles. What we need to prove our worth is to play more friendly matches. Friendly matches will give us opportunity to gain more experience.

“It was my first match for the senior national team so I am very satisfied with my performance and I believe I was able to play according to instructions given to me by my coaches. Although it was not hundred performance from me, I did my best and I am sure I made my fans proud.

“I am disappointed because I could not score in the match. But I am sure that in future, if given another opportunity, I will certainly score for my country.

“My team mates and I were not under any form of pressure. We knew the newly appointed technical adviser was in the stands watching us but we played our normal game. This is our time and surely, nobody can take it away from us.

If the performance of Team B and the posture of the newly appointed Super Eagles coach is anything to go by, Kofarmata is hoping to make the team to South Africa 2010. “I am looking forward for the opportunity to represent Nigeria in South Africa. Already I have played for my country at the U-17, U-20 levels and my target now is to play for the Super Eagles. My involvement with Team B is just a starting point. I hope to be there soon. If given the chance to be in South Africa, I will grab it with both hands.

Kofarmata says he has taken after his late father who was a football wizard in his days. “I have achieved a lot by playing football. I have no regret playing the game. My father was a great footballer so I can say I have inherited the talent from him.