Instead of crucifying Amodu, he should be given credit - Sadi
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- Category: Sports
- Written by David Ngobua
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You played for both the Flying Eagles and the Super Eagles. How did that happen?
Just like any other Nigerian player, I started playing from the primary school and then secondary school. When I was in secondary school, I was invited to the Flying Eagles camp. But before then, my school won the All Nigerian Secondary Schools Games and we went to Finland for the World schools Games there. We came second and it was from there that I got into the Flying Eagles. From the Flying Eagles, I moved to the Super Eagles. I played professional football in Belgium. On the local scene, I made my name playing for Ranchers Bess and Abiola Babes.
Can you recollect the period you represented Nigeria at the senior level and how was it like playing for the country in your days?
After 1983 Junior World Cup in Mexico, five of us were promoted to the senior national team. I played under so many coaches in the Super Eagles. There was Coach Paul Hamilton, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde, Ganiyu Salami and Clemence Westerhof. It was great playing for the country. The difference between then and now may not be much just that there was greater commitment in our days. In our days, there was no money but what we got really satisfied us. We could afford to buy a house in Kaduna for N17,000 which is more than eight million naira now. So in terms of monetary gain, the difference is not much. But now because of the advent of television and other forms of the media, there is more publicity and the present players enjoy from it.
Do you have any regrets playing for Nigeria when you did? If no, in what ways have you benefitted from playing football?
I have no regret playing for Nigeria when I did because it is always the dream of every player to play for his nation. Forget about the fact that I played abroad. The most important thing is that I played for my country. It was an amazing feeling to put on the green white green jersey. In fact we were ready to die for this country.
Today, issues of nepotism and ethnicity are recurring decimal in selection of players for the national teams. In your playing days, were players selected purely on merit?
In our days, the problem was not much because we had only few players’ agents. But the story is no longer the same. There are too many players agent and managers who want their players to be selected by all means and once that does not happen, they normally go to town with all sorts of fabricated stories. In a situation like this, they descend on the coach calling him all sorts of names. You see, there is no coach who does not want to succeed. He works for the success of his team. Therefore, it is only a mediocre coach that will go ahead and select players on selfish considerations.
Dahiru Sadi was a household name in Nigerian football circles in the early 80s which means you were in the limelight all the times. Do you still attract public attention?
As you are talking to me presently, it is partly because I am Dahiru Sadi, the player who played for the Super Eagles, Ranchers Bees and Abiola Babes. I have been enjoying tremendous respect and attention from Nigerian football fans especially those who watched me play. However, I still believe ex-international footballers should be given more attention.
Is this one of the reason why you are leading the Players Union in Nigeria?
Exactly, I still feel we deserve more attention. I am talking about those of us who have retired and those who are actively playing the game. What we are trying to do now is to re-organise the players Union. We want to see how we can improve the lives of both retired and serving footballers in the country. Some of us played for European clubs and we know what is obtainable there. We want the same thing to happen here. With the help of the football federation and some of our members, we hope to bring about the desired changes.
Surely, you are aware of the recent calls for the sack of Coach Amodu Shaibu even as he has just guided the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. Do you support such calls by Nigerian football fans?
It is disturbing to know that Nigerians are calling for the sack of the coach who qualified the national team for the World Cup. Does it mean Amodu has committed a crime by qualifying us for the World Cup?. This is the second time he has qualified Nigeria for the World Cup. Therefore instead of crucifying him, he should be given credit. He did it in 2002 and he has done it again. I personally believe Amodu should continue because he has the capacity and technical ability to lead the Eagles to success in South Africa. I have no doubt in my mind that he will excel with the present players. There is no coach like Amodu in Nigeria. He is a quiet achiever but his critics still find fault with him.
So are you saying if given enough support, Amodu and his players can deliver in Angola and South Africa?
I want Nigerians to rally around him and give him the support he needs to succeed. Let’s support him and see what he can achieve for himself and the country. There is even no need bringing in an expatriate coach to head the coaching crew. We tried them in the past and they all failed us. Amodu is capable of leading the national team without foreign aid.
In your opinion, Amodu is technically sound and should not be sacked but can you say we have the players that can do well in Angola and South Africa?
We have the players. I believe most of these players who qualified us for the World Cup will be useful in both Angola and South Africa. We don’t need to overhaul the team. Whether we like it or not, we can not do without experience in this football business. Of course, one can not rule out the possibility of bringing in one or two new players but the whole players can not be thrown away. Their accumulated experience is priceless. Let us support Amodu and see what he can do. We must for now forget about this issue of foreign coach.
But before now, were you totally convinced that Super Eagles would still qualify for the World Cup?
I was hundred percent sure. I had no iota of doubt in my mind. I even bated and won. Look, in my playing days, we defeated Kenya home and away. We beat them here in Nigeria and in Kenya. When I watched the Mozambicans in Abuja, I was convinced that they can beat any team in Maputo. Therefore I was convinced that while we will beat Kenya in Niarobi, Mozambique would beat Tunisia. That was my belief and that was exactly what happened.
But what do you have to say about feelings in some quarters that Eagles qualification is just one of the numerous accidental victories?
I do not agree with such people. If you take a careful look at the record of Amodu, you will never agree with such critics. From the first round to the final phase, Eagles did not lose any match. He won all hi matches and drew some. This tells you that they actually worked for this victory.
After the qualification, what advice do you have for the coaching crew, the players and the NFF?
Amodu and his assistants are tested hands. They know what to do at the right time. All they need is the support of every one of us. If we continue to doubt the capabilities of the coaches and the players, it will affect them adversely. Amokachi, Amoo and Aloy Agu are former international players who should be able to give the required assistance to Amodu. The players too should remain focused in spite of negative comments which would continue to flow from the mouths of critics. The same attitude should be embraced by the leadership of the NFF. I have no doubt that Eagles will do well in both Angola and South Africa.
Articles
Instead of crucifying Amodu, he should be given credit - Sadi
Category: Sports Written by David Ngobua Hits: 441
You played for both the Flying Eagles and the Super Eagles. How did that happen?
Just like any other Nigerian player, I started playing from the primary school and then secondary school. When I was in secondary school, I was invited to the Flying Eagles camp. But before then, my school won the All Nigerian Secondary Schools Games and we went to Finland for the World schools Games there. We came second and it was from there that I got into the Flying Eagles. From the Flying Eagles, I moved to the Super Eagles. I played professional football in Belgium. On the local scene, I made my name playing for Ranchers Bess and Abiola Babes.
Can you recollect the period you represented Nigeria at the senior level and how was it like playing for the country in your days?
After 1983 Junior World Cup in Mexico, five of us were promoted to the senior national team. I played under so many coaches in the Super Eagles. There was Coach Paul Hamilton, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde, Ganiyu Salami and Clemence Westerhof. It was great playing for the country. The difference between then and now may not be much just that there was greater commitment in our days. In our days, there was no money but what we got really satisfied us. We could afford to buy a house in Kaduna for N17,000 which is more than eight million naira now. So in terms of monetary gain, the difference is not much. But now because of the advent of television and other forms of the media, there is more publicity and the present players enjoy from it.
Do you have any regrets playing for Nigeria when you did? If no, in what ways have you benefitted from playing football?
I have no regret playing for Nigeria when I did because it is always the dream of every player to play for his nation. Forget about the fact that I played abroad. The most important thing is that I played for my country. It was an amazing feeling to put on the green white green jersey. In fact we were ready to die for this country.
Today, issues of nepotism and ethnicity are recurring decimal in selection of players for the national teams. In your playing days, were players selected purely on merit?
In our days, the problem was not much because we had only few players’ agents. But the story is no longer the same. There are too many players agent and managers who want their players to be selected by all means and once that does not happen, they normally go to town with all sorts of fabricated stories. In a situation like this, they descend on the coach calling him all sorts of names. You see, there is no coach who does not want to succeed. He works for the success of his team. Therefore, it is only a mediocre coach that will go ahead and select players on selfish considerations.
Dahiru Sadi was a household name in Nigerian football circles in the early 80s which means you were in the limelight all the times. Do you still attract public attention?
As you are talking to me presently, it is partly because I am Dahiru Sadi, the player who played for the Super Eagles, Ranchers Bees and Abiola Babes. I have been enjoying tremendous respect and attention from Nigerian football fans especially those who watched me play. However, I still believe ex-international footballers should be given more attention.
Is this one of the reason why you are leading the Players Union in Nigeria?
Exactly, I still feel we deserve more attention. I am talking about those of us who have retired and those who are actively playing the game. What we are trying to do now is to re-organise the players Union. We want to see how we can improve the lives of both retired and serving footballers in the country. Some of us played for European clubs and we know what is obtainable there. We want the same thing to happen here. With the help of the football federation and some of our members, we hope to bring about the desired changes.
Surely, you are aware of the recent calls for the sack of Coach Amodu Shaibu even as he has just guided the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. Do you support such calls by Nigerian football fans?
It is disturbing to know that Nigerians are calling for the sack of the coach who qualified the national team for the World Cup. Does it mean Amodu has committed a crime by qualifying us for the World Cup?. This is the second time he has qualified Nigeria for the World Cup. Therefore instead of crucifying him, he should be given credit. He did it in 2002 and he has done it again. I personally believe Amodu should continue because he has the capacity and technical ability to lead the Eagles to success in South Africa. I have no doubt in my mind that he will excel with the present players. There is no coach like Amodu in Nigeria. He is a quiet achiever but his critics still find fault with him.
So are you saying if given enough support, Amodu and his players can deliver in Angola and South Africa?
I want Nigerians to rally around him and give him the support he needs to succeed. Let’s support him and see what he can achieve for himself and the country. There is even no need bringing in an expatriate coach to head the coaching crew. We tried them in the past and they all failed us. Amodu is capable of leading the national team without foreign aid.
In your opinion, Amodu is technically sound and should not be sacked but can you say we have the players that can do well in Angola and South Africa?
We have the players. I believe most of these players who qualified us for the World Cup will be useful in both Angola and South Africa. We don’t need to overhaul the team. Whether we like it or not, we can not do without experience in this football business. Of course, one can not rule out the possibility of bringing in one or two new players but the whole players can not be thrown away. Their accumulated experience is priceless. Let us support Amodu and see what he can do. We must for now forget about this issue of foreign coach.
But before now, were you totally convinced that Super Eagles would still qualify for the World Cup?
I was hundred percent sure. I had no iota of doubt in my mind. I even bated and won. Look, in my playing days, we defeated Kenya home and away. We beat them here in Nigeria and in Kenya. When I watched the Mozambicans in Abuja, I was convinced that they can beat any team in Maputo. Therefore I was convinced that while we will beat Kenya in Niarobi, Mozambique would beat Tunisia. That was my belief and that was exactly what happened.
But what do you have to say about feelings in some quarters that Eagles qualification is just one of the numerous accidental victories?
I do not agree with such people. If you take a careful look at the record of Amodu, you will never agree with such critics. From the first round to the final phase, Eagles did not lose any match. He won all hi matches and drew some. This tells you that they actually worked for this victory.
After the qualification, what advice do you have for the coaching crew, the players and the NFF?
Amodu and his assistants are tested hands. They know what to do at the right time. All they need is the support of every one of us. If we continue to doubt the capabilities of the coaches and the players, it will affect them adversely. Amokachi, Amoo and Aloy Agu are former international players who should be able to give the required assistance to Amodu. The players too should remain focused in spite of negative comments which would continue to flow from the mouths of critics. The same attitude should be embraced by the leadership of the NFF. I have no doubt that Eagles will do well in both Angola and South Africa.