I am still waiting for Keshi’s call- Tyavkase
How did you start your football career? Well, I started like any other Nigerian youth. I started with street football but began to play club football with a small club known as Golden Age of Gboko. In 1996 I joined BCC Lions Junior team. In less than a yea, I was promoted to the senior […]
How did you start your football career?
Well, I started like any other Nigerian youth. I started with street football but began to play club football with a small club known as Golden Age of Gboko. In 1996 I joined BCC Lions Junior team. In less than a yea, I was promoted to the senior team where I played for two seasons before moving to Gabros International of Nnewi. I played one season in Gabros and then moved to El-Kanemi Warriors where I played the FA Cup. I then returned to Gabros for another half season and during mid-season I moved to back to El-Kanemi. From El-Kanemi, I moved to Enyimba in the 2002 season. Luckily when I joined Enyimba, we won the Champions League back to back. I played for like four years in Enyimba before joining Lobi Stars in the 2007/2008 season. I played one season and then left Lobi mid-season back to Enyimba. I did another three seasons with Enyimba before returning to Lobi at the beginning of this season.
Who was your role model when you started?
I looked up to Jay-Jay Okocha for inspiration. He was my role model. I tried to fashion my game after him. I tried to pick some of his tricks on the ball. I loved the way he mesmerized defenders and I found myself doing some of his tricks once in a while.
You were a key member of the Enyimba team that won the CAF Champions League back to back in 2003 and 2004. How did Enyimba manage to achieve this feat?
We had some of the best players on the local scene and even beyond. In addition, the then sports loving governor of the state, Dr. Orji Kalu gave overwhelming support to the club and the management team led by Mr. Felix Anyansi-Agwu was well versed in the politics of international football. The governor pumped in so much money and we the players on our part did our best to justify his spendings on us. Thank God we were able to win the Africa Champions League in 2003 and 2004.
What can you remember about Enyimba’s triumph in Egypt against Ismaily in 2003?
Nobody can easily forget such moment. It was like a dream because we went into the lions’ den to make history. They had beaten us 6-1 at the group stage but we later defeated them 4-2. Then in the finals, we played the first leg at home where we defeated them 2-0. So even though we lost the return leg in Egypt 1-0 we still won on aggregate. It may sound easy today but only God knows what we went through. Our opponents did everything to beat us but we stood our ground and the rest is now history. In fact Governor Orji Kalu had to run away with the trophy in a chartered flight.
Was that your most memorable moment in the colours of Enyimba?
I will say to your question. It was when we won the first CAF Champions League for the people of Abia State and Nigeria. It was a special gift for the governor who had given us so much support in our quest for glory. On a personal level, I am a proud winner of the Africa Champions League not once but twice.
Although you played so many matches for Enyimba which would you say was your best?
Yeah I can say our match against Esperance of Tunisia in Tunis where we drew 1-1. It was a very difficult match but I scored a spectacular goal that gave us that vital draw. And as a matter of fact, that goal remains my best for now. It was a beautiful goal.
But which would you say is your saddest moment in the colours of Enyimba?
It was when we lost against Ah Ahly of Egypt. We were gunning for the third Champions League title in 2005 but we lost the chance to progress right before our vociferous fans there in Aba. It was like a nightmare. Throughout that night, I could not sleep because it was a bitter pill to swallow.
Talking about international football, would you say you have had a successful international career?
I cannot say it was very successful and up to my expectations but I give God all the glory because it is not every Nigerian football player that can boast of playing for this country. Out of over 150 million Nigerians, I was given the opportunity to represent this country. I first played for the Super Eagles in 2005 in an international friendly against Romania but we lost the match. I was also in the Faro camp in Portugal preparatory for the 2006 Nations Cup but I could not make the final team. I was a super regular with the home based Eagles until I fractured my leg in training with Enyimba. Even though I have recovered fully, I am yet to be handed another national invitation.
After Enyimba’s exploits in 2003 and 2004, most of your team mates like Onyekachi Okonkwo, Vincent Enyeama, Obinna Nwaneri, Joetex Frimpong and a host of others moved abroad but you remained in the NPL. Why couldn’t you do same?
Considering the standard of the domestic league, there is no player with my kind of talent that would not like to play abroad. I have been abroad on few occasions for trials but on each occasion, things go wrong at the last minute. The last deal I got abroad was during the fuel subsidy protest early this year and it was impossible for me to travel out. However, I am optimistic before I quit, I will play abroad.
Back to the Super Eagles. Keshi is re-building the team around home based players. Do you think if given a chance you will have anything to offer again?
Why not? I am waiting for Keshi’s call and if given a chance I will play better than I did back in 2005 and 2006. I am in top form and my body is okay. I have been around for sometime but the truth is that I started early and so nobody should think I am done with the Super Eagles. It is good that Keshi is willing to give the home based players a chance. He should extend invitation to those of who have the requisite experience and talent to play for the team.
David, do you really feel happy playing in the NPL?
When I am in the pitch, I forget everything because this is my profession and playing the game gives me joy. I have no problem playing in the local league. The junior players in Lobi look up to me for inspiration and they accord me the necessary respect. I feel so happy because some of them come to me and tell me senior man I never knew that one day I would play in the same side with you or even train with you but here am I playing with you. We joke together, laugh and do everything together. Sometimes if I don’t feel like playing a match, they would come to me and say senior man we are looking up to you for inspiration. They believe my presence on the field alone is enough to intimidate our opponents. Most times, they say just stand on the field so that that we can look at you and play. I feel really appreciated.
How popular would you say you are among Nigerian football fans?
Honestly, I am popular among the fans. Anywhere I go to play, I have many fans coming out to support me. They say we are your fans, we enjoyed watching you when you were with Enyimba. They praise me and advise me not to lose hope. Some of them go to the extent of saying by now you are supposed to be in the Super Eagles or playing abroad. The fans give me so much encouragement. When I hear such kind words, I am encouraged to do more.
What do you have to say about the clamour in some quarters for the Super Eagles to be made up of entirely home based players?
I do not support the thinking that foreign players should be discarded. This is not possible because the foreign players are also Nigerians. Moreover, they have got more exposure and experience. We need to have a mixture of home and foreign based players.
Is there anything about the Super Eagles that you feel is quite disturbing?
What disturbs me most about the Eagles is that in the past when the team was to play, Nigerians talked about the number of goals the other country would concede but now, Nigerians discuss whether the Eagles would be able to win even against minnows.
Do you think Keshi can change this worrisome trend?
I have no doubt in my mind because he is doing the right things. He has deflated the ego of some players and everybody is now ready to give their best. He is doing some of the things Nigerians clamoured for and most Nigerians are happy with him.