Ranchers Bees made us rich and famous- Heyman Abdullahi
Heyman Abdullahi you made a name playing professional football but how did you start?I started from my childhood. Right from my primary school days, I was the captain of my school. In my secondary school, even though I was a junior student, I was the football captain and also the games prefect. In 1988, I […]
Heyman Abdullahi you made a name playing professional football but how did you start?
I started from my childhood. Right from my primary school days, I was the captain of my school. In my secondary school, even though I was a junior student, I was the football captain and also the games prefect. In 1988, I participated in the secondary school games and there and then I was invited to Kaduna State academicals which comprised of players like Daniel Amokachie and Tijani Babangida. We were the first to win the academicals competition in 1988 for Kaduna State. We were rewarded with colour televisions and the sum of N250.00. It may sound small but it was big money in those days.
Can you recall all the clubs you played for?
Why not? I played for Flying Tigers, Kanawa United, KKD, and then Ranchers Bees all in Kaduna State. From Ranchers I moved to Kano Pillars, 3SC Ibadan, and then Grasshoppers, FC Thun and FC St. Gallen all in Switzerland. I retired from active football in 2002.
When and how did you join Ranchers Bees?
Before I joined Ranch Bees, I was playing for my local side NIPOST Kaduna. I was paid N20 naira per month but as a student it was big money. That was in 1986-87. From there I played for KKD alongside Amokachie. In 1989, Amokachie was introduced to Ranchers Bees and I was supposed to join for the trial but I was stopped by my parents because I was to finish my school in 1989. But somehow KKD were given the opportunity to play against Ranchers in a trial game and there their Argentine coach spotted me and invited me over. As a young player, I joined Ranchers and was given the chance to play against Mighty Jets of Jos and the stadium was filled to capacity. I believe I did very well and when I listened to how my moves were appreciated I knew I played well. There and then I continued to play for Ranchers. Unfortunately, the Argentine left and I continued under the new technical man, late Chris Udemezue. When he took over the team, he was like this is a small boy, he cannot play. When the league started, I proved my mettle and fortunately Amokachie was leaving for Belgium and I was playing well. Udemezue then called me and said hi lenge lenge man, so you have been doing wayo, you must play now. That was how I became an integral member of Ranchers Bees.
When you started did you get the required support from your parents?
It was very difficult. My elder brother was a good player but he had injuries so my mother decided that none of us would play football again. However, people continued to ask her, why are you stopping this good player from playing? One day, as I watched over her shop and my local team was playing in a field opposite the shop. My team was losing 3-0 and I never concentrated on what she asked me to do. I heard celebrations but I never knew my team was losing. Then somebody came and said mama please I am begging you, allow him to come and play please and please. She was shy to say no so she said ok. I then ran in and picked my playing shoes. I went and equalized the three goals. In the end, we won the match. I was brought home on the shoulders of my team mates and that was the turning point. Surprisingly, when I was introduced to the academicals, she supported me. She gave me garri, kulikuli, groundnut and a dozen of peak milk to take to the camp. I was surprised. Even when I was paid N20, she never liked it. They will come with the bus and she won’t allow me. But at the end of the day she accepted. And when I signed with Ranchers Bees, my dad was earning N130 when I was earning N650.00 plus a match bonus of N200 for home win and N250 for away victory. At a tender age, I became a bread winner. Before I started playing football, the one room we occupied was moulded with our hands and that was in 1988. More than six persons sharing one room and it was difficult. Obviously, she was surprised when I got amount and was able to build a house for the family.
What was the atmosphere like each time you stepped on the field to play for Ranchers Bees?
You can never compare any club in the north with Ranchers Bees. It was a different thing entirely. Most times when I look back, I have every reason to applaud the proprietor of Ranchers Bees because it was something that we never expected. It was not common to see someone to invest heavily in players. He remains my hero even if he does not add more. Most of us passed through Ranchers Bees to a good life. Even if we do not have money, we have a good name which can take us places. The name helps so much. In the state, in politics, a lot of people used Ranchers and made a name. He contributed a lot. Coming to the performance of Ranchers, the introduction of the white coach, Alex Dominquez was something unique. The monetary support was a great motivation for us. We traveled to matches in chartered planes and lodged in the best hotels. It was unprecedented. Among the northern clubs, none could stand up to Ranchers. The only challenge we had was in Iwuanyanwu Nationale which later came in and then Abiola Babes which was also strong.
Which is your most memorable match in the colours of Ranchers Bees?
It was the FA cup semi-final match against Stationery stores in 1990 in Lagos at the Onikan Stadium. It was the highest crowd I had ever seen as a player at that age. That was my first time to play in such a stadium. Coming unto the pitch from underground was awesome feeling. My coach was even scared. He told me not to look at the crowd. But I told him not to worry because one thing with me is that I never looked at the crowd when playing. Fortunately when I came in I played very well. If there was no complaint it means that I played well. There was no difference between those who had been there for long and some of us who just joined from the local clubs.
Can you recall your worst moment as a football player?
I can’t recall such a moment precisely but one of my low points was the final of the 1995 Challenge Cup which I played for 3SC of Ibadan. That year, we were the double champions. In the semi-finals I scored two goals against Rangers and expectations were really high. But in the finals I was unable to find my feet but I know it was due to intense pressure. I was in the camp of the Super Eagles so I was coming and going. It’s not that I did badly but that was not my best performance. I wanted to give my best but unfortunately I couldn’t. But it helped us because the whole of Katsina United players were after me giving way for my team mates to play. We won the FA cup eventually.
On the local scene, which of the defenders was like a nightmare to you?
I think it was in my early days, in my first year with Ranchers. I played against one defender who played for Stationery Stores, the one they called ‘barbwire’. He was more mature and brutal. I was not afraid of him but I was cautious not to get injured. I believe he was the only player that scared me but afterward, I got over the fear and it never happened again.
What was the secret weapon you used against tough defenders?
Most times when I was to play as a point man, I would go to my coach and ask him to give me the opportunity to rove around the field. If I rove within the first five minutes, I picked the weakest in the opponents defence and then use him to make the required penetrations which most times resulted into the needed goals. Most of the defenders were too slow to match my strength and speed.
Where did you derive the confidence to play comfortably among the big boys?
In the past there was nothing like premature retirement of players. There were the older players around to guide and protect the younger ones. In a team like Ranchers, there were lot of experienced players that had been there for long and when they introduced one or two younger ones they guided them. And when a younger player gets to play among the mature and experienced players, he learned quickly, especially if he had self discipline. It was not like the football of today that is like an institutional thing. There is no learning process and every player believes he is a star but in actual sense they are not different from the local players of yore.
Did you play for any of the national teams?
It was in the national U-23 team and the Super Eagles. In 1993, I was to travel with the Junior Eagles to Cairo but I was later dropped due to politics in the team. But later I saw one of the coaches who told me they looked for me but I was nowhere to be seen. I was again called to Super Eagles in 1995 under Bonfere Jo. I was in the team that was supposed to travel to South Africa. I was the only home based player for South Africa ‘96 but it never happened due to political differences between Nigeria and South Africa.
How did you overcome the disappointment?
Yes it was a huge disappointed because I believe I am the only person that suffered the biggest loss. That was a great opportunity for me to feature in the Nations Cup. I looked forward to that opportunity again but it never came so I can say I was the biggest loser. We were given a cash of $20,000 each and asked to leave. It was a kind of compensation for not taking part in the tournament.
Why is it becoming so difficult for northerners to play for the Super Eagles?
Generally, things are no longer done on merit in this country and this includes selection of national team players. The north is blessed with talented players however, I must say that there is no provision for development such players up here. Religious and cultural factors are affecting northern players. Most of them are good but the mentality they have is that they do not want to go out and they do not want to work hard. Most of them do not respect their profession and are not ready to give their best. I remember in 1992 when 3SC Ibadan needed my service they said even when if I had signed or received money from Kano Pillars all they want is to see me in Ibadan. I had received a sign on fee of N25,000 and then 3SC gave me a transport fee of N5000,00 and the difference between the transport money and my sign on fee in Pillars was not much. I realized that I wanted to play football to be a great player and I was told not to go to Ibadan that they believe and do juju a lot. But I asked myself, you are aspiring to play in Europe, don’t they do juju there?. I then took the money and gave my mum and when I told her what I wanted to do, she said if it is there that is better for you, I wish you all the best. I then said thank you and left. On reaching Ibadan, I was kept for months in a hotel and fed very well. All I did was to play and they paid my salaries and bonuses. I did not pay for accommodation. The difference was clear. And the amount they paid to me as sign on fee was times five of what I earned in Pillars. You can see it now. Now why shouldn’t I move to Ibadan where I had everything I needed?. And as I am talking to you, I have never played anywhere in the world better than Ibadan. With the whole achievement, I never played as comfortably as I did in Ibadan. I was given everything I needed.
What advice do you have for players from the north?
I am encouraging my brothers in the north to go out and play anywhere in the world. In Nigeria we believe so much in godfatherism which is a serious problem. But in football, there are three keys to success. There is performance, determination and your personal commitment towards what you want to achieve. But the players these days believe that when they are close to the coach they would make it. It is a lie. Play well even if the coach does not like you somebody else will like you. Again they must know that in football, there are three good relationships. There is business relationship, sporting relationship and visitor relationship. At all times the player should believe that he is a visitor who can leave at anytime. At all times, he should know that he is a businessman, and at all times, he has to know that he is a sportsman. These are the additional three things that if they put at the back of their mind and establish themselves as players, then the sky is going to be their limit.
There is so much money in football now, do you regret playing at the time you did?
I never regretted and I won’t regret because at that time it was the value of the money that mattered. Even players of today are still complaining that the money is not good enough. In future they would realise there was no difference between us. It is a generational thing. But the kind of training and administration they have now, you cannot compare with ours because the standard of play and administration of the game presently is nothing to write home about. There is need for us to sit down and take stock of what is happening. There is too much corruption in Nigerian football now.