‘If he was alive and still playing he would be rated among the best from Africa’
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Yakubu Ibn Mohammed, a seasoned broadcaster and a brilliant footballer in his hey days, gave insight into the life and times of late soccer legend Garba Okoye, in this brief interview with SHOT! Editor, Ismaila Umaru Lere. Mohammed recalled some of Okoye’s exploits in the field and described him as one of the greatest footballers to have come out of Africa.
How well did you know the late Garba Okoye? What was the relationship between you and the legendary footballer?Like all boys growing up in Jos in the sixties I was football crazy, playing and following it religiously. That was how I came in contact with the Late Garba Okoye who was one of the stars of the famous Plateau Eleven of that era. Initially I saw him from a distance as an idol and a role model but we eventually became very close friends though he was much older than me.
What memories do you have of him in his playing days and during his coaching career?
I still remember him as the footballers’ footballer – skillful and disciplined- whose presence in any team gave the opposing team nightmares and scared the day lights out of defenders. As a coach he was firm and brooked no nonsense from any player no matter the player’s relationship with him. Though a personal friend he once decamped me for reporting late to camp after a weekend break.
Can you recall any of his outstanding performances in which you were present or had been told especially in the Challenge Cup series?
At the 1972 Challenge Cup Final at the Onikan Stadium against Bendel Insurance of Benin when with seconds to go he took on virtually the whole of the opposing defence to score to bring the score-line to 2-2 and forced a replay which Mighty Jets lost.
What made Garba Okoye a special person and footballer?
His excellent ball control, made- to-measure passes and ability to score from seemingly impossible angles. As a person, he was amiable and easy- going and forthrightly honest.
How did the fans and sporting public regard Garba Okoye both on and off the football field?
He was regarded as a complete gentleman, kind, honest and charismatic.
Have you ever been close to his family? How would you describe him as a family man?
He was a loving husband to his wife, Veronica, who never got tired of entertaining the never-ending stream of friends and visitors to their home along Masallacin Juma , a street in Jos.
As a young coach, what was his best training method and coaching technique?
As a coach he placed emphasis on ball control, team work and physical fitness. He valued creativity and gave players the freedom to express themselves. He studied his players individually and used his astute technical brain to fashion them into a team.
What were his favourite moves on the field? Are there any that stick out?
He was famous for his impeccable ball control and tailor-made passes. His dummies were also very unique.
Do you have any inkling why he stopped playing active football at a young age and picked up coaching?
I believe he decided stop playing when the ovation was loudest. He decided to jump rather than wait to be pushed.
With all the good players Plateau Highlanders had in the 60s and 70s, how disappointed was he not to win major silverware?
It must have been very disappointing especially for someone very good. However, he did have a consolation as he was in the Mighty Jets team that the maiden edition of the National Division One League in 1972.
How would you compare him with any other player both modern times and the olden days?
It is my belief that in football, player comparison is mostly guided by subjective emotions hence my hesitation to try to relate the late Garba Okoye’s exploits to those of players before and after him. Suffice it to say that in his days he was in a class of his own and if he was alive and still playing he would be rated among the best from Africa.
Garba Okoye was discovered through the Academicals, how did it operate in those days? How did it served as a conveyor belt for football talents in the country?
In the then Northern Nigeria the Davies’ Cup competion was the platform for school-boy footballers to show-case their skills and those who excelled were selected for the Northern Academicals. Other regions had similar competitions from which their academicals were picked. These Regional Academicals then met in Lagos to compete for the National Academicals’ trophy. This arrangement continued even after the regions were broken down into states. Somewhere along the line however the programme was discontinued. The only thing close to it now is the Shell Cup which unfortunately has become mercenary-infested as most schools, bent on winning, field ‘’emergency’’ students. There is , however, some hope of Revival if the Presidential Committee on Academicals Football takes the bull by horn and comes up with something credible and enduring.
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‘If he was alive and still playing he would be rated among the best from Africa’
Category: Sports Written by - Hits: 663
Yakubu Ibn Mohammed, a seasoned broadcaster and a brilliant footballer in his hey days, gave insight into the life and times of late soccer legend Garba Okoye, in this brief interview with SHOT! Editor, Ismaila Umaru Lere. Mohammed recalled some of Okoye’s exploits in the field and described him as one of the greatest footballers to have come out of Africa.
How well did you know the late Garba Okoye? What was the relationship between you and the legendary footballer?Like all boys growing up in Jos in the sixties I was football crazy, playing and following it religiously. That was how I came in contact with the Late Garba Okoye who was one of the stars of the famous Plateau Eleven of that era. Initially I saw him from a distance as an idol and a role model but we eventually became very close friends though he was much older than me.
What memories do you have of him in his playing days and during his coaching career?
I still remember him as the footballers’ footballer – skillful and disciplined- whose presence in any team gave the opposing team nightmares and scared the day lights out of defenders. As a coach he was firm and brooked no nonsense from any player no matter the player’s relationship with him. Though a personal friend he once decamped me for reporting late to camp after a weekend break.
Can you recall any of his outstanding performances in which you were present or had been told especially in the Challenge Cup series?
At the 1972 Challenge Cup Final at the Onikan Stadium against Bendel Insurance of Benin when with seconds to go he took on virtually the whole of the opposing defence to score to bring the score-line to 2-2 and forced a replay which Mighty Jets lost.
What made Garba Okoye a special person and footballer?
His excellent ball control, made- to-measure passes and ability to score from seemingly impossible angles. As a person, he was amiable and easy- going and forthrightly honest.
How did the fans and sporting public regard Garba Okoye both on and off the football field?
He was regarded as a complete gentleman, kind, honest and charismatic.
Have you ever been close to his family? How would you describe him as a family man?
He was a loving husband to his wife, Veronica, who never got tired of entertaining the never-ending stream of friends and visitors to their home along Masallacin Juma , a street in Jos.
As a young coach, what was his best training method and coaching technique?
As a coach he placed emphasis on ball control, team work and physical fitness. He valued creativity and gave players the freedom to express themselves. He studied his players individually and used his astute technical brain to fashion them into a team.
What were his favourite moves on the field? Are there any that stick out?
He was famous for his impeccable ball control and tailor-made passes. His dummies were also very unique.
Do you have any inkling why he stopped playing active football at a young age and picked up coaching?
I believe he decided stop playing when the ovation was loudest. He decided to jump rather than wait to be pushed.
With all the good players Plateau Highlanders had in the 60s and 70s, how disappointed was he not to win major silverware?
It must have been very disappointing especially for someone very good. However, he did have a consolation as he was in the Mighty Jets team that the maiden edition of the National Division One League in 1972.
How would you compare him with any other player both modern times and the olden days?
It is my belief that in football, player comparison is mostly guided by subjective emotions hence my hesitation to try to relate the late Garba Okoye’s exploits to those of players before and after him. Suffice it to say that in his days he was in a class of his own and if he was alive and still playing he would be rated among the best from Africa.
Garba Okoye was discovered through the Academicals, how did it operate in those days? How did it served as a conveyor belt for football talents in the country?
In the then Northern Nigeria the Davies’ Cup competion was the platform for school-boy footballers to show-case their skills and those who excelled were selected for the Northern Academicals. Other regions had similar competitions from which their academicals were picked. These Regional Academicals then met in Lagos to compete for the National Academicals’ trophy. This arrangement continued even after the regions were broken down into states. Somewhere along the line however the programme was discontinued. The only thing close to it now is the Shell Cup which unfortunately has become mercenary-infested as most schools, bent on winning, field ‘’emergency’’ students. There is , however, some hope of Revival if the Presidential Committee on Academicals Football takes the bull by horn and comes up with something credible and enduring.