I want to play like Zidane - Shagari
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- Category: Shot
- Written by David Ngobua
- Hits: 895
Kano Pillars youngster, Shagari Mohammed Shagari in this exclusive chat with Shot! said he is doing his best to play football like the famous former French striker Zinedine Zidane and ex- Manchester United mid-fielder Paul Scholes. He also revealed how he began playing football and his dreams. Excerpts:
What are your names and where do you hail from?My full names are Shagari Mohammed Shagari. I was born on 29 November 1990. I am from Kaduna North Local Government in Kaduna State. I did my primary and secondary education in Kaduna town. I started my secondary education at Rimi College but completed in Grays International also in Kaduna in 2006.
How did you get into football?
I started playing football even before I got into primary school. I used to play in my neighbourhood with my mates. When I started my primary education, I played for the school team. After my primary education, I went to Rimi College and that was where I began to play serious football. I played the Shell Cup but we lost at the semi-finals to Grays International School. The following year, I transferred to Grays and we played up to the national semi-finals. It was during the competition that I was invited to the national U-17 by Coach Ganiyu Salami. I was also a member of the Flying Eagles team to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Egypt under Coach Samson Siasia.
Did your parents support you when you wanted to play football?
My father did not support the idea but my maternal uncle Muntari Yusuf who played for the national team encouraged us. He asked my father to allow us play after school. He said as long as we were going to school and attending our Islamic studies, we should be allowed to play football.
When and how did you get into Kano Pillars?
I can say, I started my professional career with Ranchers Bees of Kaduna in 2005. In 2006, I moved to El-kanemi Warriors from where I joined Pillars in the 2007/2008 football season. I started playing professional football immediately after my secondary school.
Have you won anything with Pillars?
Yes, in my first season with the club, we won both the league and the Super League. It was quite a happy moment for me because I had just joined the club. I must thank some of the more experienced players like Mohammed Musa, Abubakar Baleria, David Amanyi, Alhaji Mohammed, Bala Mohammed and our goalkeeper Joel Theophilus who helped me to gain the necessary confidence to play. They supported me a lot.
How do you and your colleagues cope with the pressure from Kano fans?
It is a huge challenge but we have got used to them. They like football so much and they want us to win at all times. We do our best because we want to make them happy. Sometimes, even when we win but not convincingly, the fans are not happy. Sometimes before a match even when we are eating, we continue to think about what we would do to satisfy our fans.
How popular are you among the football fans in Kano?
I think I and my team mates are loved by the fans here. They appreciate the way we play and whenever we go out, they show us so much love. For instance, when I go out, some of the young boys are always happy to have a handshake with me. I am sure some of them are trying to be like me.
Can you remember your best match in the colours of Pillars?
My best match?. I have a lot of good matches. It’s hard to point out a single match as my best. There are plenty matches that I played well. Like our champions League match against Heartland in Kano. It was a fantastic atmosphere and I know I played well. Every year, I have good matches.
What about your worst match?
The match against Enugu Rangers in Kaduna is one of such matches. We played draw and I did not play well. I did not sleep for many days. Another one was here in Kano against Bayelsa United. I did not play but it was a bad day for Pillars as a team.
Is there any defender you dread so much in the NPL?
I have not met such a player yet. All I know is that every other player is a human being like me. They have two legs and I have two legs so I can not be afraid of any player. There are strong and rough defenders in the league but I do my things my own way.
Which player in the world do you admire so much?
There are two great players I try to emulate. Even though they have retired from active football, I try to play like Zinedine Zidane and Paul Scholes. I like the way they played and I want to be like any of them.
Who is your best player in the NPL?.
In the Nigerian league, my best player is Cletus Itodo who pays for Sunshine Stars and my best goalkeeper is my team mate Joel Theophilus.
What did you do with your first money as a professional player?
I got my first money as a professional player in Ranchers Bees and I used it to buy a piece of land in Kaduna. I hope to develop the plot when I gather enough money.
How much have you gained from football?
I can say I have gained so much in terms of fame and wealth. I cannot say I am very comfortable but going by the standard around here, I am not doing badly. At least I am driving a car that was given to us by the former Governor of Kano State and I give assistance to my family. I am sure more will come in future.
Articles
I want to play like Zidane - Shagari
Category: Shot Written by David Ngobua Hits: 895
Kano Pillars youngster, Shagari Mohammed Shagari in this exclusive chat with Shot! said he is doing his best to play football like the famous former French striker Zinedine Zidane and ex- Manchester United mid-fielder Paul Scholes. He also revealed how he began playing football and his dreams. Excerpts:
What are your names and where do you hail from?My full names are Shagari Mohammed Shagari. I was born on 29 November 1990. I am from Kaduna North Local Government in Kaduna State. I did my primary and secondary education in Kaduna town. I started my secondary education at Rimi College but completed in Grays International also in Kaduna in 2006.
How did you get into football?
I started playing football even before I got into primary school. I used to play in my neighbourhood with my mates. When I started my primary education, I played for the school team. After my primary education, I went to Rimi College and that was where I began to play serious football. I played the Shell Cup but we lost at the semi-finals to Grays International School. The following year, I transferred to Grays and we played up to the national semi-finals. It was during the competition that I was invited to the national U-17 by Coach Ganiyu Salami. I was also a member of the Flying Eagles team to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Egypt under Coach Samson Siasia.
Did your parents support you when you wanted to play football?
My father did not support the idea but my maternal uncle Muntari Yusuf who played for the national team encouraged us. He asked my father to allow us play after school. He said as long as we were going to school and attending our Islamic studies, we should be allowed to play football.
When and how did you get into Kano Pillars?
I can say, I started my professional career with Ranchers Bees of Kaduna in 2005. In 2006, I moved to El-kanemi Warriors from where I joined Pillars in the 2007/2008 football season. I started playing professional football immediately after my secondary school.
Have you won anything with Pillars?
Yes, in my first season with the club, we won both the league and the Super League. It was quite a happy moment for me because I had just joined the club. I must thank some of the more experienced players like Mohammed Musa, Abubakar Baleria, David Amanyi, Alhaji Mohammed, Bala Mohammed and our goalkeeper Joel Theophilus who helped me to gain the necessary confidence to play. They supported me a lot.
How do you and your colleagues cope with the pressure from Kano fans?
It is a huge challenge but we have got used to them. They like football so much and they want us to win at all times. We do our best because we want to make them happy. Sometimes, even when we win but not convincingly, the fans are not happy. Sometimes before a match even when we are eating, we continue to think about what we would do to satisfy our fans.
How popular are you among the football fans in Kano?
I think I and my team mates are loved by the fans here. They appreciate the way we play and whenever we go out, they show us so much love. For instance, when I go out, some of the young boys are always happy to have a handshake with me. I am sure some of them are trying to be like me.
Can you remember your best match in the colours of Pillars?
My best match?. I have a lot of good matches. It’s hard to point out a single match as my best. There are plenty matches that I played well. Like our champions League match against Heartland in Kano. It was a fantastic atmosphere and I know I played well. Every year, I have good matches.
What about your worst match?
The match against Enugu Rangers in Kaduna is one of such matches. We played draw and I did not play well. I did not sleep for many days. Another one was here in Kano against Bayelsa United. I did not play but it was a bad day for Pillars as a team.
Is there any defender you dread so much in the NPL?
I have not met such a player yet. All I know is that every other player is a human being like me. They have two legs and I have two legs so I can not be afraid of any player. There are strong and rough defenders in the league but I do my things my own way.
Which player in the world do you admire so much?
There are two great players I try to emulate. Even though they have retired from active football, I try to play like Zinedine Zidane and Paul Scholes. I like the way they played and I want to be like any of them.
Who is your best player in the NPL?.
In the Nigerian league, my best player is Cletus Itodo who pays for Sunshine Stars and my best goalkeeper is my team mate Joel Theophilus.
What did you do with your first money as a professional player?
I got my first money as a professional player in Ranchers Bees and I used it to buy a piece of land in Kaduna. I hope to develop the plot when I gather enough money.
How much have you gained from football?
I can say I have gained so much in terms of fame and wealth. I cannot say I am very comfortable but going by the standard around here, I am not doing badly. At least I am driving a car that was given to us by the former Governor of Kano State and I give assistance to my family. I am sure more will come in future.