My dream is to play for Super Eagles – Alfa Abdullahi

Could you introduce yourself?My names are Alfa Abdullahi. I am from Niger State but I was born and brought up in Kaduna State. I am also the captain of the Abuja Football College. It may also interest you to know that I started playing football at the age of eight. How much support did you […]

Could you introduce yourself?
My names are Alfa Abdullahi. I am from Niger State but I was born and brought up in Kaduna State. I am also the captain of the Abuja Football College. It may also interest you to know that I started playing football at the age of eight.
How much support did you enjoy from your parents?
I cannot say I enjoyed any support from my parents because both of them are late now and I did not have the privilege to benefit from their support as far as my football career is concerned. However, I have an elder brother who is fully in support of my chosen career.
How did you get into the Abuja Football College?
Like I told you I started playing as early as when I was eight years and I played under so many young coaches in Kaduna before I was identified and brought for screening in the Abuja Football College. In the college, things are done purely on merit so I was selected and based on my performance and I think leadership qualities, I was made the captain of the college.
Did you take part in any youths tournaments before coming over to the Abuja Football College?
Yes, I took part in the COPA Coca-cola, zonal, national and international competition in London. From there I joined the Abuja Football College and we travelled to Croatia but we did not win the tournament we attended. But this time, we went to Italy and then Croatia where we won the tournament we are today celebrating.
So how happy are you now that you have won a tournament in Europe?
I am so happy because we are the first African team to win it since the tournament started 61 years ago in Croatia. We are worthy ambassadors of Nigeria and we are not going to stop at this. We hope to keep improving.
Do you have any words of appreciation for the sponsors of the Abuja Football College?
We thank them for giving us the opportunity to showcase our talents at home and now in Europe. We urge them to keep supporting us and we won’t let them down.
Would you say you guys are good enough to play in any of the junior national teams?
I will like to play for any of the junior national teams and we are calling on the coaches to give some of us a chance. Many of us here can impress if given the opportunity. We are waiting for their invitations. I can be the best among them, if given a chance.
Why did you choose to play football?
I have chosen football because I want to be great and famous like Zinedine Zidane, Xavi and Iniesta. I know that if I work really hard, I can achieve greatness. I like these three great players so much. I want to make my nation proud in future. My dream is to play for the Super Eagles.
Where is your confidence coming from?
I have the opportunity to be like them. This academy is the starting point. I hope to graduate from here to play for some of the big clubs in Nigeria and Europe. I don’t think it is wrong to dream big.
Who is your best player in Europe?
My best player is Xavi. He has a lot of skills and whenever I watch him, I learn a lot of tricks. He has good ball control and his movement with and without the ball is always good. In fact I want to play like him.
What is your favourite club in Europe?
I am a fan of Real Madrid but I follow Barcelona as well because of Xavi and Iniesta.
If you have the opportunity to go to school, what course would you like to study?
I will like to go to school and also play football if given the necessary support. I am done with my secondary school and if I have the opportunity to go to the university, I will like to study mechanical engineering.
Why the choice of engineering?
One of my cousins is a mechanical engineer and I like watching him when he is working. I want to be like him.
In your assessment, how strong is the Abuja Football College in terms of performance on the field?
Since I came to the academy, we have been unbeaten for two years. No academy has beaten us. We even played with the senior national team, the Home-based Eagles and we drew 3-3 with them. We were three goals down but we stormed back to cancel out all the goals. We have played with so many clubs in the NPFL. We played 1-1 with ABS FC of Ilorin.
So you think some of you can play in the NPFL?
Yes we can if given the opportunity. If the clubs show interest and our management approves, we would be glad to play. All we ask for is the opportunity for us to prove that we are good.