My absence cost Nigeria Italia 90 ticket - Adeshina
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- Category: Sports
- Written by Orkula Shaagee
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Former Green Eagles midfield jewel Ademola Adeshina, currently Technical Adviser to NEPA of Oshogbo was in Abuja last weakend to attend a seminar organized by the Nigeria National League (NNL) for club officials, during which SHOT! reporter cornered him for a chat. Adeshina, who spent ten years in the national team and represented Nigeria at four editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, told our reporter that as the only stubborn midfielder then that the Cameroonians were always afraid of, his absence from the start of the match against them in the last match of the Italia ‘90 World Cup qualifier in Yaounde provided an opportunity for the Indomitable Lions to score the only goal of the match and deny Nigeria a place to the 1990 World Cup. Excerpts...
Can you identify yourself for the purpose of this interview?I am Ademola Adeshina, ex-Green Eagles player in the 80s. I am a native of Oshogbo in Osun State and I started my playing career from there and later transfer to Ibadan. I have a wife and three children, two boys and one girl. The lady behind me is Mrs. Nne Mercy Kolapo Adeshina.
Former clubs
I will start from the grassroots; I played for Igbaraye Boys club, International Boys club and NEPA FC of Oshogbo, then to Edo 81 and later IICC of Ibadan to Abiola Babes and Julius Berger of Lagos.
After playing three months in Julius Berger, I went to Morocco 88 Africa Cup of Nations and got a contract to play in Belgium with Jen Akeren; thereafter I quit in 1994, that it is better to quit early when the ovation is loudest.
Even in 1990, I still had room to play for the national team, but I said let me leave the stage and give the younger ones opportunity to come in.
What are you doing at the moment?
I am the Technical Adviser of NEPA FC Oshogbo.
What will you say about Nigeria’s absence at the ongoing 2012 Nations Cup in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea?
It is sad and I am not happy, you can see that a Nations Cup without Nigeria is not complete, even the whole world knows what they are missing something if Nigeria is not there. Honestly, it is not a good development for the Nigerian football and people like us.
What in your opinion is the reason why the national team was able to play quality football during your days in the national team?
During our time with Keshi, Yisa Shofoluwe, Bright Omokaro, Sunday Eboigbe and Rashidi Yekini among others, we were dedicated and committed to the game. At that time, there was nothing like big money, but we played out our hearts because you are happy to wear that Nigerian colour, and I thank God that anywhere I am today, if my name is mentioned, people remember me because of the role I played in the national team in the past. I thank God for that. We were committed and dedicated but today, only a few of them are committed, the only thing is that everybody needs money. I even talked about this recently with Stephen Keshi in Casablanca when we met. So, I am appealing to young boys of today that if you choose football as a profession, you have to be discipline and work hard. So, like I said, to wear that jersey was enough. There are millions of Nigerians there and if you are called upon to take a national jersey, it is enough. So today’s players should have this at the back of their minds because what you do today is what Nigerians will judge you for in future.
Do you think Nigeria can still raise the kind of national team that was in place during your time?
You see, we still have quality players in the country that if developed very well can give the country good results, but just like what we are saying at the seminar here, the clubs need to do only those things that are good to promote our football. A match should not be a must win, the referees should be fair in their officiating. If it were not for good officiating, I would have won at least a gold medal out of all the four Africa Cup of Nations championships that I participated in, but the better side always won.
You said you have played in four Nations Cup championships, may we know these championships?
My first African Cup of Nations was Libya 82 when I scored the first goal for Nigeria and newspapers back home said unknown Ademola Adeshina scored first goal for Nigeria.
Then I played Cote d’Ivoire 84, we missed the 1986 edition, but played in Morocco 88 where I missed the final due to red card when Bright Omokaro came in and got the nick name 10-10.
Thereafter, I played my last Nations Cup in and then Algiers 90. It was a sad experience for me when we lost the first match 1-5 to host Algeria, but like I said earlier when you lose you go home and loom at the mistakes and correct them, we still got to the final and lost to Algeria by 0-1. We were unfortunate to lose.
You said Algiers 90 was your saddest moment in football career, so which one is your happiest moment?
No, Algiers 90 is not the saddest moment in my football career, the lost to Cameroon in the 1990 World Cup qualifier is actually my saddest moment in football; because we needed a draw to qualify but we lost 0-1 in Yaounde and did not qualify for Italia 90.
So, what of your happiest moment in football?
My happiest moments are many, but it was when I scored my first goal in the national team and the first for Nigeria at the Libya 82 Africa Cup of Nations tournament against Ethiopia.
Can you still remember how many times you featured for Nigeria and how many medals you won during your footballing career, both at club and national team level?
I have four medals to my credit, and have 45 caps for the national team; and since 81 when I started for the national team, I was never benched except once and that was the last Italia 90 World Cup qualifier against Cameroon.
Do you think you would have made any difference if featured for the game against Cameroon?
In can’t say it was because I did not play in that match that we lost but I believe in myself. I remember my coach then, Paul Hamilton was there with me, because Westerholf just came in and just changed the whole thing, but I know why and those that were behind it, but the issue of who and who are behind it is a story for another day.
Because I believe that I was the only stubborn midfielder then that the Cameroonians were always afraid of but immediately they saw that I was on the bench, they were very happy and capitalize on it to score the only goal to deny Nigeria a place to the1990 Italia World Cup.
And it was only ten minutes left to play when the coach asked me to come in, and at that time, what do you want me to do? But as a coach he knew better. So, I have to obey him.
You were a defender during your playing days, who in Africa will you pick as the toughest player you met throughout your playing career?
No, I was a midfielder, but people misunderstood my role with Keshi. I was a midfielder but any time Keshi goes up front, I take his position while Sunday Eboigbe remains the last stopper, and that is why Keshi enjoyed me while we were there with Peter Rufai in goal, because Keshi always like to go up front and I would cover up for him.
As a footballer, what made you people strong?
Well, some of us were not born with bread and butter. Some of us when you finish training, you go back to your room and sleep, but today’s players when they finish training they go from one end to another and the next day they get tired, and on match day, they play for only 30 minutes. But personally, I never womanized; I never drink and after training I go back home, but hardly you see me in the city and that is why all the coaches that I played under like Westerholf, Udemezue and others would always give me kudos.
There was a time when the late Ikhazobor told Udemezue and that I must be fielded, and Udemezue asked why do you have interest in the boy and he said that boy must be in our midfield.
Does it mean discipline was the watch word?
Yes, like you said discipline was the most important because it has many definitions. If you are asked to stand there and you remains there is discipline and if you know what is good for yourself to eat, it is discipline. You have to discipline yourself to get what you want.
Do you regret playing for Nigeria?
Never, my country is my country; I will ever remain grateful and proud wearing the green-white-green of Nigeria. For ten good years, I played for Nigeria.
So, what you are saying is that if you get another opportunity to play for Nigeria you will take it?
Yes, I will still take it, because the game started during our era, beginning with the likes of Odegbami and Muda Lawal. Since then, if Nigeria is not in a tournament, it is a big blow for the whole world.
So, I will still play for Nigeria if given another opportunity. I am proud of my country.
My absence cost Nigeria Italia 90 ticket - Adeshina
Category: Sports Written by Orkula Shaagee Hits: 646
Former Green Eagles midfield jewel Ademola Adeshina, currently Technical Adviser to NEPA of Oshogbo was in Abuja last weakend to attend a seminar organized by the Nigeria National League (NNL) for club officials, during which SHOT! reporter cornered him for a chat. Adeshina, who spent ten years in the national team and represented Nigeria at four editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, told our reporter that as the only stubborn midfielder then that the Cameroonians were always afraid of, his absence from the start of the match against them in the last match of the Italia ‘90 World Cup qualifier in Yaounde provided an opportunity for the Indomitable Lions to score the only goal of the match and deny Nigeria a place to the 1990 World Cup. Excerpts...
Can you identify yourself for the purpose of this interview?I am Ademola Adeshina, ex-Green Eagles player in the 80s. I am a native of Oshogbo in Osun State and I started my playing career from there and later transfer to Ibadan. I have a wife and three children, two boys and one girl. The lady behind me is Mrs. Nne Mercy Kolapo Adeshina.
Former clubs
I will start from the grassroots; I played for Igbaraye Boys club, International Boys club and NEPA FC of Oshogbo, then to Edo 81 and later IICC of Ibadan to Abiola Babes and Julius Berger of Lagos.
After playing three months in Julius Berger, I went to Morocco 88 Africa Cup of Nations and got a contract to play in Belgium with Jen Akeren; thereafter I quit in 1994, that it is better to quit early when the ovation is loudest.
Even in 1990, I still had room to play for the national team, but I said let me leave the stage and give the younger ones opportunity to come in.
What are you doing at the moment?
I am the Technical Adviser of NEPA FC Oshogbo.
What will you say about Nigeria’s absence at the ongoing 2012 Nations Cup in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea?
It is sad and I am not happy, you can see that a Nations Cup without Nigeria is not complete, even the whole world knows what they are missing something if Nigeria is not there. Honestly, it is not a good development for the Nigerian football and people like us.
What in your opinion is the reason why the national team was able to play quality football during your days in the national team?
During our time with Keshi, Yisa Shofoluwe, Bright Omokaro, Sunday Eboigbe and Rashidi Yekini among others, we were dedicated and committed to the game. At that time, there was nothing like big money, but we played out our hearts because you are happy to wear that Nigerian colour, and I thank God that anywhere I am today, if my name is mentioned, people remember me because of the role I played in the national team in the past. I thank God for that. We were committed and dedicated but today, only a few of them are committed, the only thing is that everybody needs money. I even talked about this recently with Stephen Keshi in Casablanca when we met. So, I am appealing to young boys of today that if you choose football as a profession, you have to be discipline and work hard. So, like I said, to wear that jersey was enough. There are millions of Nigerians there and if you are called upon to take a national jersey, it is enough. So today’s players should have this at the back of their minds because what you do today is what Nigerians will judge you for in future.
Do you think Nigeria can still raise the kind of national team that was in place during your time?
You see, we still have quality players in the country that if developed very well can give the country good results, but just like what we are saying at the seminar here, the clubs need to do only those things that are good to promote our football. A match should not be a must win, the referees should be fair in their officiating. If it were not for good officiating, I would have won at least a gold medal out of all the four Africa Cup of Nations championships that I participated in, but the better side always won.
You said you have played in four Nations Cup championships, may we know these championships?
My first African Cup of Nations was Libya 82 when I scored the first goal for Nigeria and newspapers back home said unknown Ademola Adeshina scored first goal for Nigeria.
Then I played Cote d’Ivoire 84, we missed the 1986 edition, but played in Morocco 88 where I missed the final due to red card when Bright Omokaro came in and got the nick name 10-10.
Thereafter, I played my last Nations Cup in and then Algiers 90. It was a sad experience for me when we lost the first match 1-5 to host Algeria, but like I said earlier when you lose you go home and loom at the mistakes and correct them, we still got to the final and lost to Algeria by 0-1. We were unfortunate to lose.
You said Algiers 90 was your saddest moment in football career, so which one is your happiest moment?
No, Algiers 90 is not the saddest moment in my football career, the lost to Cameroon in the 1990 World Cup qualifier is actually my saddest moment in football; because we needed a draw to qualify but we lost 0-1 in Yaounde and did not qualify for Italia 90.
So, what of your happiest moment in football?
My happiest moments are many, but it was when I scored my first goal in the national team and the first for Nigeria at the Libya 82 Africa Cup of Nations tournament against Ethiopia.
Can you still remember how many times you featured for Nigeria and how many medals you won during your footballing career, both at club and national team level?
I have four medals to my credit, and have 45 caps for the national team; and since 81 when I started for the national team, I was never benched except once and that was the last Italia 90 World Cup qualifier against Cameroon.
Do you think you would have made any difference if featured for the game against Cameroon?
In can’t say it was because I did not play in that match that we lost but I believe in myself. I remember my coach then, Paul Hamilton was there with me, because Westerholf just came in and just changed the whole thing, but I know why and those that were behind it, but the issue of who and who are behind it is a story for another day.
Because I believe that I was the only stubborn midfielder then that the Cameroonians were always afraid of but immediately they saw that I was on the bench, they were very happy and capitalize on it to score the only goal to deny Nigeria a place to the1990 Italia World Cup.
And it was only ten minutes left to play when the coach asked me to come in, and at that time, what do you want me to do? But as a coach he knew better. So, I have to obey him.
You were a defender during your playing days, who in Africa will you pick as the toughest player you met throughout your playing career?
No, I was a midfielder, but people misunderstood my role with Keshi. I was a midfielder but any time Keshi goes up front, I take his position while Sunday Eboigbe remains the last stopper, and that is why Keshi enjoyed me while we were there with Peter Rufai in goal, because Keshi always like to go up front and I would cover up for him.
As a footballer, what made you people strong?
Well, some of us were not born with bread and butter. Some of us when you finish training, you go back to your room and sleep, but today’s players when they finish training they go from one end to another and the next day they get tired, and on match day, they play for only 30 minutes. But personally, I never womanized; I never drink and after training I go back home, but hardly you see me in the city and that is why all the coaches that I played under like Westerholf, Udemezue and others would always give me kudos.
There was a time when the late Ikhazobor told Udemezue and that I must be fielded, and Udemezue asked why do you have interest in the boy and he said that boy must be in our midfield.
Does it mean discipline was the watch word?
Yes, like you said discipline was the most important because it has many definitions. If you are asked to stand there and you remains there is discipline and if you know what is good for yourself to eat, it is discipline. You have to discipline yourself to get what you want.
Do you regret playing for Nigeria?
Never, my country is my country; I will ever remain grateful and proud wearing the green-white-green of Nigeria. For ten good years, I played for Nigeria.
So, what you are saying is that if you get another opportunity to play for Nigeria you will take it?
Yes, I will still take it, because the game started during our era, beginning with the likes of Odegbami and Muda Lawal. Since then, if Nigeria is not in a tournament, it is a big blow for the whole world.
So, I will still play for Nigeria if given another opportunity. I am proud of my country.