Kingsley Obiekwu was a tall imposing central defender during his heyday and was part of the all-conquering national U- 23 team that dazzled the world to win the soccer gold medal of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The towering defender fondly called Shagari here recalled some of best playing moments as well as his painful France’98 World Cup miss in an encounter with TUNDE LIADI.
Nigeria became the first African team to win the Olympic soccer gold medal and indeed, there has never been a side from the continent before that feat but was later equalled by Cameroon at Sydney 2000.
In the mix of that famous squad was bulky central defender, Kingsley Obiekwu who was then kick-starting his career in Europe with Dutch side, Go Ahead Eagles.
He’d begun his career with Udoji United in his homeland, but never again represented a European club after leaving Eagles in 1998.
Obiekwu would go on to represent Al Ahli in Dubai and the Egyptian side Al Masry, sandwiched between stints with Enugu Rangers. He hung his boots in 2006, having received the last of his eight Nigeria caps in 1999.
The Olympics represented the highlight of Obiekwu’s international career as he failed to represent the West African soccer power house at any major tournament after the ’96 Games in Atalanta.
Obiekwu reminisced on how the preparations for the Olympic Games qualifying tournament began and what was done after they drew at home to Kenya in the first leg, a first round fixture of the qualifiers played in April 1995 in Lagos.
He explained that what initially brought about the Under 23 camping in late 1994 was because of then All Africa Games (now African Games) slated for Harare, Zimbabwe and he further opened up on Mombasa Miracle where Nigeria defeated Kenya 3-0 away despite being held to a goalless draw at home in Lagos by the same opposition, in the first leg.
The former Udoji United defender recounted how about 500 players were used to prosecute the Olympic Games qualifying games and the build up to the tournament in Atlanta Georgia.
“We started the U-23 camp late towards the end of 1994 in preparation for All African Games,” Obiekwu told NationSport. “I was invited to the camp while playing for Udoji United.
“When we started, it was only Kanu Nwankwo that was invited as a foreign based player but he was unable to honour the first leg game in Lagos.
Read also: ABIODUN OBAFEMI: Life after Atlanta’96 Olympics
“We were meant to play Cote d’Ivoire and then Ghana in the qualifiers for the All Africa Games but our path became smoothened when Ghana withdrew and we picked the sole ticket in the zone.
“Kenyan games were for the Olympic Games while we also met Egypt and Zimbabwe along the way in the qualifiers before we picked one of the three tickets meant for Africa.
“Before we qualified for both tournaments, Nigeria used more than 500 players and after much intense training and practice matches, myself and Emma Babayaro made it to both tournaments.”
Shagari as fondly called by his admirers gave more insights into how the Kenyans who were close to creating a massive upset were caged before their fans despite taking the Under 23 team to a bad pitch in Mombasa.
“The Mombasa second leg was a miracle. The team was mixed with both foreign and domestic league players. I was still playing for Udoji United and I played the match.
Describing the mood before the Olympics, Obiekwu noted that the team had a good preparation with the trip to the United States way before the start to enable the team gel and to play quality friendly games.
“The mood preparatory to the Olympics was great. I was delighted to make the team. I was privileged to make the team. It was a thing of joy.
Obiekwu didn’t get to play for top clubs in Europe despite his immense talent and the ex-defender blamed it on the dearth of agents back then to help facilitate the move.
“I started with Udoji United and from there, I moved to Europe and Asia before coming back to play for Rangers then back to North Africa,” recalled Obiekwu who will be 47 on November 12.”I stayed three and half years in Europe and two years in Asia.
“It’s because there were limited opportunities as at that time and we didn’t have a lot of agents and managers working round the clock for players. I began to manage myself when I left Europe.”
The former Al Masry defender, who played less than 10 international matches for Nigeria, posited that it was tough to play for the national team back then because of the quality of players.
He also attributed his inability to earn many international caps to several niggling injuries during his playing days.
“Fighting for shirts for Super Eagles was competitive back then unlike now that the quality has waned somehow,” he said. “Back then, you would have about four or five players that were very good for a particular position.
“Injuries were not too kind to me too. I had injuries the most of my career,” he pointed out.
Obiekwu stated with emphasis that winning the Olympic Games gold medal remained the highlight of his professional career even as he expressed his gratitude to God and the Under 23 technical crew headed by Jo Bonfrere.
He said: “You are right by saying that winning the Olympics was the highlight of my playing career but for me, the Olympics were for me. God gave a medal to me and I am grateful to God.
“I also want to thank the impartial technical crew that picked me for the competition.”
The one-time Enugu Rangers central defender however wondered why no any other African nation has won the Olympics gold medal since the back to back feats of Nigeria and Cameroon in 1996 and 2000.
“Godfatherism is the major reason no African has won it again,” he said. “We don’t pick the right players.
“Agents, coaches, managers, club owners compile list of players for National team coaches.”
As he gave the Olympic gold medal as the defining moment of his career, the current coach of Ingas FC regretted his inability to make the Super Eagles squad to the 1998 World Cup hosted by France.
He said he gave a good account of himself in the camp and was poised to make the team until he got injured and had to leave the camp.
He said: “My inability to play in France 98 World cup was my most regrettable moment. I had injury in camp.
“I was shattered by the development. I would have loved to experience how it feels like to play at the World Cup.”
The nickname, Shagari had stood with him throughout his playing career and Obiekwu confirmed that it was a nickname he got from his then primary school goalkeeper who said he was a lookalike of former President, late Shehu Shagari.
“My school goalkeeper in primary school gave me the nickname. He said that I looked like the former President Shehu Shagari,” Obiekwu said.