NFA, Etim Esin caused Chile ’87 disaster- Okon

How did you start your football career? Thank you very much. I started like most Nigerian youths. I began to play football right from my primary school days up to university level. I played for so many clubs in Nigeria. I started with Calabar Rovers before I moved on to play for BCC Lions, Sharks […]

How did you start your football career?

Thank you very much. I started like most Nigerian youths. I began to play football right from my primary school days up to university level. I played for so many clubs in Nigeria. I started with Calabar Rovers before I moved on to play for BCC Lions, Sharks of Port-Harcourt and Julius Berger FC Lagos. I played for the Flying Eagles and the Super Eagles. I also played briefly in Switzerland before I was forced back home due to injury. When I returned to Nigeria, I signed for Akwa United where I played till 2004. I won so many laurels with the Super Eagles, BCC Lions and Julius Berger. When I stopped playing in 2004, I went for coaching course where I obtained advanced diploma in coaching.

Which player inspired you when you started?

Well as a little boy I looked up to late Mudal Lawal. When I saw them playing for Nigeria I said how I wish I could play like them and that made my interest to develop. I worked hard. I did not have a godfather but God saw me through. Mudal Lawal was the person I looked up to. I admired him so much. Even when he died, I attended his burial.

How was it like playing for the then famous Calabar Rovers?

It was an amazing feeling that words alone cannot explain. We made the club popular with good football. Most of us were so passionate about the club. If you have a passion for the game whether you are paid or not, you give your best. I enjoyed myself in Rovers because I played along with more experienced players like Uwen Ekarika and they guided me so much. They all loved the way I played. At a stage, they insisted that I must be fielded because I won most matches for the team.

Considering your small stature, how were you able to cope with bigger opponents?

Well, I don’t know if I was exceptional but any time I wore any jersey, I gave out my best. Maybe that’s why I was able to go far. Although I was very small, when Clemence Westerhof came to this country, he fell in love with me and made me one of his key players. I played in all positions under him. Before we went to the Nations Cup in Senegal in 1992, I played almost all the positions. He used me everywhere except in the central defence and goalkeeping. I was a kind of utility player.

You were a member of the highly rated 1987 Flying Eagles that crumbled like a pack of cards in Chile. What really went wrong?

Well, I had spoken on this but let me give you the gist once again.  During our preparations, we went to Kenya for acclimatization. We camped there for one month. The plan was for us to move straight to Chile but a day before our departure, we were brought back to Lagos to stay for a full day. When we arrived Lagos, most of the players went to their homes. You know majority of the players came from Lagos. Nobody knew what they did with their bodies but the following day, we travelled. Moreover, before we went on training in Kenya, we asked NFA to make available tapes of our opponents but we were turned down on the grounds that watching the tapes would make us afraid of our opponents. We were denied the information we needed to prepare for Brazil, Canada and Italy. When the tournament started, we lost the first game against Brazil 4-0. In our second group match against Canada, we the players demanded to be allowed to do the line up. We wanted to change the team because we had seen so many faulty things. Certain players were being treated like demi-gods.  The officials there said the coach, Late Chris Udemezue should still make the team. I scored the first goal and Adeolu Adekola scored the second. We were leading 2-1 but Ladi Bablola scored an own goal to level scores for Canada. After the match, he was confronted by Jonathan Akpoborie. They quarreled and fought. If anybody said there was no quarrelling, it’s a lie. Babalola slapped Akpoborie and they fought. But we were asked not to say anything about it. The team that went to Chile was the best as far as I am concerned. I remember during our preparation, we played friendly matches against some of the big clubs like Julius Berger and Stationery stores but we did not lose any game. Even in the qualifiers, we did not lose any match.

So the NFA and acts of indiscipline on the part of the players caused the disaster in Chile

I am still coming. When we were in camp in Kenya, they brought back Etim Esin and the team was factionalized. Most of the strikers said they can play why did they bring back Esin? After all his injury had not healed, why bring him back? And that was the genesis of the crisis in the team. The entire team was split. Had it been Etim did not come back and we did not return to Nigeria from Kenya, the unity would have been intact but Etim returned and the whole team disintegrated.

Would you say the Flying Eagles poor showing in Chile had adverse effect on your career?

I believe so because at that early stage, if one had gone out early in his career, he would have learnt more outside and his chosen career would have taken a turn for the better but I missed that opportunity.

Are you happy that you played football at the time you did?

Yes, why not?. When I played, I made my mark even if there was no money. We did not play for money. Things were not as they are now. I wanted to make a name and I am happy I did. At least when I was playing, I was a household name. And even now anywhere I go I am addressed as ex-international. It is not everybody that is addressed like that.  Playing for my country is one of the best things that happened to me. Out of over 160million Nigerians, I was one of those who wore the green white green colours. I am so grateful even if I did not make so much money.

What was your happiest moment as a player?

Well scoring a goal at the world Cup is any players dream. And I scored at the 1987 FIFA U-20 World Cup against Canada and that remains my happiest moment in football. Although I had other happy moments, the goal in Chile against Canada is the highest moment for me.

Worst moment

It was when we lost out in the same tournament. It remains the most disappointing moment because I had high expectations that we would shake the whole world going by the quality of players we had in the team. I was sad and I am still sad to be part of the disaster in Chile.

Keshi has cut down on the attention that his predecessors paid to foreign based players. Is this a step in the right direction?

I like what Keshi is doing. This was exactly what Westerholf did in his time. He worked with home based players and introduced few foreign based players. The foreign pros always want to protect their legs but the local players are always ready to take risk because they also want to make a name and play abroad. If Keshi continues with what he is doing, he would get the required result.

What advice do you have for the present Super Eagles?

The players should know that whenever they are selected to play, the country is doing them a favour. It is not the other way round. They should be ready to pay the country back by getting results. So if anyone fails to prove himself, he should be shown the exit door.

Are you one of the ex-internationals who feel abandoned by the football authorities?

I cannot say I have been abandoned by anyone because even if man abandons me, God cannot abandon me. Let me say I have been neglected in the sense that those who played and have decided to continue by attending coaching courses so as to remain in the game have been sidelined. What I expect the NFF to do is to look at the states that have people like me who did this country proud by winning laurels and give us opportunities to serve in different capacities. They should give people like us chances in the national teams.

What are you doing for a living?

I am coaching Canaan United football academy in Calabar. Last year we went for play off in Port-Harcourt, I won all my games and qualified the team for Nationwide League division two. This year, we just played our last home game on Friday which we won 2-0 and qualified to play in the Nationwide division 1. We played against Rovers in the F.A Cup finals. Even though we lost, we have qualified to play in the National Challenge Cup.