Since taking over the leadership of Nigeria Squash Federation (NSF) in 2017, Boye Oyerinde, an Engineer and sports enthusiast has moved from ground zero to an enviable level in his quest to revive squash in Nigeria. He sat down with TAIWO ALIMI to examine area of growth, challenges encountered, youth and school squash amongst others.

HOW has it been since taking over president of NSF in 2017?    

We are quite happy with what we are able to achieve last year. What we simply did was to go back to the drawing board and looked at what we needed to do that will be beneficial to our players. At the early stage we were focused on playing squash but now our focus is development. We realized that in the early stages when we ran tournaments, we were running top dollar tournaments. Then, we structured change at the top. PSA started a new programme where they cancelled qualification and the level of players we were getting dropped. And if we continue with that we would only be running exhibition matches for those who love squash. We looked at the programmes and realized that running satellite programme was cheaper for us and our players get ranking points locally. And we reached out to stakeholders and potential sponsors and fortunately for us we got positive responses and we were able to host seven PSA tournaments, which enabled our players to earn ranking points locally. I’m happy to say that our number 1 junior player, then, who has moved on to the senior level, went up in ranking from 453 to 250 thereabout without leaving the shores of Nigeria. Also, for the first time in 20 years, Nigeria was able to participate at the Men’s World Team championship, though we had a setback because we did not get visa for two of our players. It was really disappointing.

How did COVID-19 pandemic affect this lofty accomplishment?

The question should be how it set back the world? It affected everyone in such that we could not play any game and even now the risk is still there. It was only in August that the minister approved of outdoor sport-not contact sport to start playing again. And that allowed us to start playing but not at the same level. It is not just for the players but for the viewers who are coming to watch. So we have to take into consideration safety of players and viewers.

What are the plans on ground for post Covid-19 era?

What we are planning to do post Covid is to jumpstart the game plan we had. This year we had planned to host many more tournaments, satellite tournaments and we are speaking to potential tournaments and we are happy to say that we have two of them who are willing to support us to get kits for the second phase of our grassroots’ development. We had the first phase last year where we were able to get kits for 17 states. Now, we are looking forward to getting kits for the remaining 20 states, and then, we would now start getting into schools and clubs. We still have our training programmes for players, coaches, referees and we want to continue the development of our national squad. Now, we have the senior national team, we don’t have the junior squad and help them reach a level where they can participate well at international level. And I’m hoping that we can get that off the ground.

Basically, what we want to do is to build on the foundation that we have and slowly get back into the game post Covid.

You talked about having a national squad on ground now, what is their frame of mind after months of inactivity?

Presently we are still at the teething stage. First thing we did was creating a data base and from here, have a ranking system. That way we know who the Top 10 are. When we were planning for the World Team championship, we were able to select the best of them. And the four top players more or less form the national squad and we have our reserve. We have among them two junior players that have smoothly moved up with the support of one of our own Prof. Tayo Talabi, who supported them with training programmes to get them to top level.

In term of their frame of mind, the WTC happened at Washington, USA, last December and as I said earlier two of them were not given visas, so you can imagine the disappointment. To be in camp for two months and when it come to when you need to show what you have learned, you were denied, they were quite disappointed. Hopefully, we can get them back on track as the world is opening up. We have spoken with them and they are ready to go.

What are the plans to get squash into schools, which is one of your promises on coming on board? 

The first phase is to approach this from the state. We got the coaches together and we went through a programme looking at the facilities on ground. For instance, we use the Teslim Balogun Stadium as a case study. It is right there in Surulere and there are schools around them. Now, we have to approach the schools, the next challenge is kits for new players to use. It will be very difficult to acquire racquets for every player that comes around, so what we did is to ask all the states to send their coaches to us. Luckily we were able to get NIMASA to give us kits and we gave each state a set of racquet, balls and goggle. What it means is that the kits are there permanently with the coaches so different players can come and use them. That way we were able to get mileage from the little we have. Now, there 37 states in the country and we gave to 17 states. For equity we need to provide for the other 20 states. Hopefully, by the first quarter of next year, we can do that. Then, we can now go down to the primary schools and secondary and clubs that are doing well. We have Jacob Esuene Club in Eket, Seun Peters Club in Ikeja. We need to be able to support. We are hoping that we could do a trial run whereby we give kits to the schools like Kings College Lagos and run them through a programme. We need to tidy that up because we need to pay the coach and have a programme to run through. What programmes do we have for the age ranges and all that?

What are the biggest challenges facing NSF under your watch?

There are two key things. One is infrastructure. If you look at the infrastructure available for squash federation, you are talking about the squash courts at Abuja National Stadium, and the ones at National Stadium Surulere. The one at National Stadium Surulere were practically unusable. The ones in Abuja, you only have two of them that are usable because there are some people that go there to play and they have been able to keep it running. These are facilities that the national team should be able to use without having to go elsewhere. But, they are not available. We have reached out and trying to get sponsors, fortunately, we got one sponsor who is giving us one court for the National Stadium Surulere but that still needs to be installed.

The other thing is funding. There is no way you can do anything without funding. To put players in camp; they need to eat. You need to give them kit. You need pay coaches and also pay for the facilities. You need to provide them with vitamins. For all these you need money. In other to expose these players you have to get them to play abroad. For example, when we were at the World Team Championships and our number one Tunde Ajagbe was playing, one player, I remember asked him, what is your ranking? He said 146 or so and that person replied, how come you play better that your ranking. So we have to ensure they play more frequently.

What would you want to be remembered for after your tenure?  

I think what we have achieved speak for itself. When we came on board, there was practically nothing on ground. There was nothing to work with. We had to build from scratch. Today, we have our database. We have a website that we try to update. We have seeding for all the different categories from U13, U16, U19, and the senior both male and female. We have been able get squash as a permanent sport at the National Sports Festival and the next one it will become a medal sport. We have a foundation that that anybody can build upon.

Are you coming back? 

I hope so. But it is not my call. If I can vote myself in I will. At least we have done our best.

What has your board done in the area of coaches training?

We have done level 1 and level 2 training and trainings at the grassroots level to prepare those who will handle children. The same thing we have done for the referees.  The next stage which we want to do now is to now to bring in World Squash Federation’s coaches and referees to come in and work with our committees and come up with a programme for the country to drive. We want to be able to have referees who can go out and officiate. We want to be able to have a record of referees that have gone through the certification. We are planning to do it next year. We have spoken with sponsors and I’m optimistic that we can swing it.

ON COURT WITH OYERINDE

Experience & Mentors 

Was I prepared for it? What a lot of people did not know is that for years I was Tournament Director for Lagos State Squash Association.  From 2013 I’ve handled all major international events. I worked with Sanya Akindele, the then chairman and the board. I also worked with the then Commissioner for Sport, Enitan Oshodi and with Deji Tinubu and Dr. Kweku Tandoh. So, I’ve been a part of the squash community for a while before going to the national.

Of course I love the game of squash and being in the corporate world also prepared me well for the challenge.

Love for Squash

I actually got in late. I started playing squash in the year 2000. I was introduced by a friend and started playing at Lagos Lawn Tennis Club. His name is Dolapo Ogunmekan. I’ve always played table tennis, which you don’t really need fantastic infrastructure to play. Squash appeared to me like table tennis and I tried it and I did not do too badly. I remembered been asked if I’ve played the game before and I said no. I was advised to continue in it and that I would be good at it. That was in 2000. Later, I joined the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club and Coach Steven Peters began to train me. What also helped me and got me interested was meeting Wasiu Sani; he’s been the national number one for years. I trained with him and he made a difference in my game.

If not squash! 

I started out playing football. In-fact I trained with Coach Austin Ofokwu of Stationery Stores FC. It was a church thing and he would come every Saturdays to train us and he gave me a totally different perception of football, then I started playing table tennis. Squash became very convenient for me. If not squash, maybe table tennis.

Sporting Heroes 

Personality gets to me on and off the court. I see someone like Roger Federer, his personality on and off the court. He’s marvelous. In squash I look at Nick Matthew and Amr Shabana; their doggedness and the way they conducts themselves off the court. For me it is not just about your attitude on court but beyond it. When you are out there a lot of people emulate you. What you present is what is taken. I like what they stand for.

I have two of them; Onaopemipo Adegoke and Gabriel Olufumilayo. They are like rivals now and I know that with proper guardians and training they will go far. Aside from them from what we have been doing so far, there is a pool of them and until we are able to create a platform where you get the right training and the right platform to show their skill, we’ll probably get their best.

Family and Sport

My son, Ogooluwakitan is into sport but not squash. He’s into ice skating, swimming and karate.  I probably made him not to play squash because he asked me to train him and I told him that I’m not a coach, somehow he just refused to let anybody train him. We do play together but he’s not keen about it.

In his only interview during the 2020 ATP Finals in London, the world no.1 tennis player talks about his tempestuous season, growing up in a war-torn country and facing adversity on and off the court. 

RUNNING away with world No 1 for a record sixth time in a year where he won one Grand Slam, was runner-up in another and the best player in the third, where he enjoyed a winning streak of 26 matches and won two other titles, there is still a nagging sense the year could have been even better.

“When I draw a line under the season as year-end No1 and winning four tournaments and having been unbeaten for a while, of course, whatever I do here, that’s amazing,” he said. “But I do still look for more than that. Having had plenty of success in the past is a huge incentive, but also it can be a burden, as you always expect nothing less from yourself.”

Djokovic remains the overwhelming favourite for singles title No5 in 2020 at the O2 Arena. He relishes the indoor courts — although points out he has not won in London the last four years — and has his sights set on equalling Roger Federer’s six ATP Finals titles.

For tennis and for Djokovic in particular, it has been a year of adversity: from his US Open disqualification for hitting a line judge to the ill-fated Adria Tour, in which he and others contracted Covid-19 and the setting up of the new Professional Tennis Players Association.

“I kind of grew up in adversity when you think about it,” he said. “Growing up in a war-torn country during the Nineties with sanctions, embargoes and that — there was a lot happening during my early childhood days. So, I got accustomed to that.

“When I started travelling and experiencing different adversities, it was not as difficult for me to deal with, as it was kind of muscle memory. That doesn’t mean you have to go through war to develop resilience, I don’t wish war on anybody.

“But in my case it did help me to develop a thicker skin, to be able to prove myself even more. That fuels me to prove I can achieve things whatever is in front of me.”

On court, the adversity seems to lift him. After his New York disqualification, he returned by winning his very next tournament, the Italian Open, and then reached the final of the French Open, where he reflects now he did not stand a chance against a Rafael Nadal at his peak.

And, off the court, despite advice from others around him, he has no plans simply to stick to tennis or shy away from controversy.

“Whether I should focus on tennis and nothing else, I think that’s impossible for me anymore,” he said. “I’m not at this stage of my life anymore. I have things happening in my life and can’t neglect that and think only about winning a tennis trophy and breaking records without thinking about my kids, family and other things. I’m fine balancing that.

“I understand many people have many different opinions. I respect when someone has a different opinion and expresses that publicly, say the players’ association, the PTPA. I found myself being criticised a lot, but I do what my heart tells me.

I don’t wish war on anybody … but in my case it did help me to develop a thicker skin.

“I try to remind myself that anything that I involve myself with needs to have a positive impact and reflection on tennis, sport and life in general. Sure, everyone makes mistakes, I have flaws as everybody else, but I don’t have an issue being honest and transparent.”

It seemed unthinkable at the outbreak of the pandemic that the ATP Finals, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, would go ahead. There were even predictions by some of the top players there would be no professional tennis in 2020, but the end-of-season event, which is being held in London for the last time before it moves to Turin, has been preceded by two Grand Slams and a series of ATP Masters events.

For Djokovic and his peers, that has meant skipping from one bio-secure bubble to the next. In his latest, at the Intercontinental Hotel, restrictions are so tight that instead of walking to the adjoining O2, he has to be driven to the venue by car.

The Serbian, however, is not complaining, with his sights firmly set on the record books. Already, he has achieved one this week in matching Pete Sampras’s six year-end No1s. Federer’s ATP Finals wins is next and then the 20 Grand Slam singles titles, a record Federer and Nadal now share.

Djokovic knows he should have ended the year on 18 had it not been for what he calls “the unfortunate incident in New York” where, by his own admission, he was playing the best tennis of his season. But when he takes stock over the season, he insists he will not regret the delay of No18.

“With New York, I got out of the tournament with something not related to hitting a forehand or backhand into the net,” he said. “And the French Open final? I couldn’t say I regret something and think I was close, because I wasn’t. I was just outplayed and so it’s not difficult to move on.

“And I don’t think about age as an issue for me, maybe that I have a year or two or three left in me to fight for more Slams. Sure, I have to be a bit more strategic from next season with creating my calendar, which tournaments I want to prioritise and where I want to peak.

“But as long as the desire is there, I’m healthy and I have the support of my family, I’ll keep on playing. I don’t see it as an obligation, it’s not a financial issue or anything like that, I just still enjoy it and want to compete at the highest level. As long as I feel like that, I’ll be here a long time. I don’t want to put an expiry date on me yet!”

The world No1 believes he is still improving as a player, and the events of 2020 would back that up. He is also drawn to improving as a human being, something to which he alluded after the controversies surrounding both the Adria Tour and then the US Open.

He readily admits he finds the tennis betterment easier. “Because I’ve played tennis since four, so more or less every single day for almost 30 years of my life, I think I’ve mastered improving specific areas of my game.

“I find it easier to improve on a tennis court, although I’m still training to be a better husband and father, I’m still young at that.”

In the build-up to the tournament, the focus is solely on tennis improvement and bowing out from London and the season with another plus. “I’ve had plenty of success in London” he said. “I feel good about myself, but it’s still a long way to get my hands on the trophy.”

Our Reporter 

Nigerian teenager Oseghale Ehizode has been named in the team shooting for a Jr. NBA title with BC United squad.

The youngish basketball player is son to former sport journalist Joe Ehizode, who relocated to Canada in the 90s.

The U14 team beat Calgary’s Genesis Basketball 83-59 in the final of the Jr. NBA Canada West regional championship at Langley Events Centre.

The United roster includes Surrey-based players Ehizode and Gurshan Sran, along with eight others from across Metro Vancouver. White Rock’s Marcus Flores Besseling is also on the team.

Ehizode scored 18 points to help BC United win the regional championship game at the LEC.

With a win at Canadian regionals, the team advanced to the Jr. NBA Global Championship, which held from Aug. 6 to 11 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World, near Orlando, Fla. The event involved a field of eight U.S. regional representatives and eight international regions, including Canada, in boys and girls divisions.

On the girls side at Canada West regionals, the VK girls team beat Genesis by a score of 83-28 to advance to nationals in Toronto.

In the boys’ game, BC United jumped out to a 19-6 lead after one quarter before Genesis cut the gap down to as low as five points early in the second quarter. The score was 35-26 at the half but BC United opened the third quarter on a 15-2 run and never looked back.

“We have been training for this,” Rupinder Dahia, who coaches the squad alongside Karlo Villanueva, said in a release. “The boys are primed, they are hungry, the want to compete.”

The team of 14-year-olds goes “to war in practice every day, we go five-on-five against each other and just leave it all out on the court,” Dahia added.

Prior to this season, the LEC release notes, the BC United boys were scattered among a trio of basketball clubs (AthElite Basketball, 3D Basketball and Vancouver Sports Academy), before coaches decided to merge the three into one for a better shot at advancing in the Canadian regionals.

Said Dahia: “They all battled each other a couple of months ago at provincials. We decided to form a team to give ourselves a better opportunity to compete and show (the rest of Canada) what we can do.”

Other players on the United squad include Tarrence Booker (New Westminster), Andy Chen (Burnaby), Declan Cutler (North Vancouver), Brady Lau (Burnaby), Mikyle Malabuyoc (Vancouver), Arpan Sidhu (Vancouver) and Zachary Zapanta (Richmond).

Last year, the first for the Jr. NBA program, Surrey-based AthElite represented the West in the boys’ draw but came up short at the Canadian regionals.

Wikki Tourist and Nigeria international Raymond Onyekachi Aja recounts his 21 year struggle with spinal cord injury. He shares his pains, shattered dreams, and optimism with Taiwo Alimi.

His story will make you cry. From infancy, Onyekachi Aja knew he would be a professional footballer. Football runs in his family but he was specially endowed. By the time he could kick football properly he began to turn heads at school football competition rising to captain his school within two years. Once he got into secondary school, the Anambra state academicals came after him to play for the U-13 team and from here there is no looking back. He became a regular in the team. For ‘Onyeka’ as he is commonly called, many fans would come to the stadium. He was energetic and fluid, bringing a new dynamism into left full back plays. The teenage Onyeka would dribble his way from defense to attack and scored his fair share, sometimes from difficult positions. He was sold to football soul and body.

Things were still looking up for Onyeka when he signed for University of Nsukka (UNN) Football team, a semi-professional side, upon leaving secondary school. Shortly after he moved to intercity FC, another semi-professional team, but he skill would only be good for the best-a professional team.

In 1996, Onyeka took his destiny in his hands. He left home for Bauchi for trial with Wikki Tourist FC, one of the biggest professional clubs till date. He mesmerized the coaching crew within a short time and got a contract. Onyeka did not spent much time on the bench. He got a regular shirt benching one of the oldest members of the team in the process.

His coming may have given Wikki Tourism a new lease of life as it proceeded from Division 3 to Division 2 in 1997. In 1998 Wikki gained promotion to Division 1 and won the FA Cup, beating Plateau United at the Ranchers Bees Stadium, Kaduna, 3-2 on penalty shootout. The win gave

Wikki  ticket to represent Nigeria in the then African Cup Winners Cup now Confederations Cup.

By this time Onyeka had become a household name. Supporters’ club started using his name in their songs. “Onyebuchi muna de safi”, they sang, meaning “Onyebuchi is very hot.” He was having the time of his life. He was living his dream. He even got a national call from the Nigeria U-17 team under James Peters.

Like a golden fish that cannot be hidden, Onyeka was spotted by foreign scouts in far away Morocco when Wikki Tourist played Royal Armed Forces. He made an impression on many of them but one in particular, Monsieur Vercourter, a Belgian kept calling him, even in Nigeria.

One bright morning, Onyeka received a call from Vercourter that he had secured a contract for him with Belgian club, Genk FC. And that he had completed his travelling arrangement. He would be leaving in a week.

It was the news Onyeka had been waiting for all his life. He was over the moon. But he had to play one last time for his Nigeria club, one last time, he thought.

This last trip to Katsina became the beginning of his troubles. The salon car they were travelling in got into an accident and Onyeka was among the badly injured players. He sustained a spinal cord injury. He spent three years in and out of surgery tables. He forgot the use of his legs completely and for 20 years has been living in pain and penury.

The ebullient thoroughgoing player is now a shadow of himself. What would have been only come to him in dreams-in traumatized dreams, yet Onyeka thank God daily for sparing his life.

FINDING FOOTBALL

Speaking of his love for football, Onyeka said: “Football runs in my family. My dad was an athlete, he also played football. My mum played netball. So, I can say that I took after my dad. My brothers played football but I’m the only one that played professional football.

“My dad never wanted me to be a footballer. So, it was a personal decision because the more he flogged me the more I fell in love with football. To some point, football nearly cost me my education. In my secondary school days, I was called ‘Onwu ball’ he who would die where there is ball. Since my parents couldn’t stop me they started supporting me. So, I will say my family influenced me to go into football as a youngster.

“I started playing football when I was in Primary 3 at Central School, Onuiyi- Nsukka. We played street football and inter class matches. Sometimes, we played against classes above us. Those matches were keenly contested and winning gave us bragging rights for some weeks.  In Primary 5, I was selected to represent Nsukka zone. I was made the vice captain of the team; I went on to become the captain of the team the next year in my Primary 6. We won the tournament and represented Nsukka LGA for the all secondary schools competition in Enugu.

“In my JSS 1, I was invited to play for the old Anambra State U-13 in the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) tournament at Ilorin. I started playing in the senior team of my secondary school in JSS 3 and was a key player in the team as small as I was. My school was a community school in a rural part of Nsukka but we punched above our weight, beating many so-called ‘elite schools’ to win laurels.

ON BIGGER THINGS 

“With my eyes set on bigger things, I left home in 1996 for Bauchi. Luckily, Wikki Tourist was holding their screening exercise which has been going on for two months before my arrival. There were over 100 players for the screening. The first day I played, the coaches, management and fans fell in love with me. It was a rigorous exercise; players were dropped daily with those successful moving to the next stage.  From the moment I joined, the screening lasted for three months. In the end, I was among the few that made it. After signing for the team, I broke into the main team, seizing the number three position from the team’s favourite player in that position. We gained promotion from the then Division 3 to Division 2 in 1997. Due to my work rate and dedication to the team, the management rewarded me by increasing my sign on fee. Then in 1998 came the big one. We gained promotion to Division 1 and won the FA Cup, beating Plateau United at the Ranchers Bees Stadium, Kaduna, 3-2 on penalty shootout.”

Onyeka spoke about exploits at Wikki Tourist with glee.

“Wikki represented Nigeria in the then African Cup Winners Cup now Confederations Cup. I gave my best to the team so much that the supporters club took to singing my praise. They would sing with the name of the Bauchi State Governor, Adamu M’uazu, Sanni Toro and my name. Though my name is Onyeka, they preferred calling me Onyebuchi. “Onyebuchi muna de safi”, they sang, meaning “Onyebuchi is very hot.” It was fun then.

THE ACCIDENT

Onyeka talked about the accident that took away his dream as if it never happened, in whisper, yet clearly. “The game against Katsina United was the last game I wanted to play for Wikki unfortunately we had the accident. Along Ningi-Bauchi-Kano Road, the 504 station wagon we were travelling with somersaulted. I landed on my back and sustained spinal cord injury with a team mate. I can’t forget the accident; if nothing else my condition is a constant reminder. Could you imagine a young man full of life with a lucrative contract in Europe at his finger tips become a cripple. Life is tough even for people who can walk how much more someone in my situation. Life has been difficult for me but I thank God for a few friends who have stood by me all this while.

“The then Governor, Adamu M’uazu, Alhaji Nuhu Wabi, Professor Ilyasu Mohammed, NFA secretary, Sanni Toro, Nurse Mahmoud, Patrick Paschal, Alhaji Issa Matori and other good people of Bauchi rallied behind us to see that we were taken care of. The state government undertook our medical bills at Bauchi State Specialist Hospital, Jos University Teaching Hospital and UCH Ibadan. The governor also directed the state government to build a house for us on any land of our choice and pay us salary for life.”

Onyeka never got any house. He was left alone to seek out payments for his medical operations and supplies. It is a daunting task given that the only income coming was his salary too meager to do anything. Even, that salary was stopped by Wikki Tourist management in 2018.

What kept him from going overboard was the life of Dosu Joseph, he said. The Olympic gold medalist also suffered spinal cord injury in 1997-a year after the Atlanta Olympic triumph. Joseph has rebounded to become a top player scout and manager.

DOSU JOSEPH 

“Psychologically, when the accident happened and the doctor broke the news that I had spinal cord injury, I was devastated.  All dreams to play abroad gone up in smoke, the news was too much for me to take but a voice asked me; what if you were dead? I put away the trauma and took solace in Dosu Joseph. I read everything about him; how his faith built him up and he was able to walk. I prayed to God if Dosu could walk so would I. I thank God I have a fantastic family. My wife has been a pillar of support. It really has not been easy raising three children. I help them with school work as well as do other house chores but there’s a limit to which I can work and do things I would have loved to do with my kids because I can still feel pain where I was operated on the back.”

To make ends meet (he had to feed a wife and three children), he relied solely on family and friends. “I get financial assistance from friends; my class mates in secondary school and team mates at Nigercity Babes. A few of my team mates at Wikki have also come to my assistance.”

“Financially, it has not been rosy, especially since Wikki stopped my salary. I lost two of my brothers, one to accident and the other to cancer. They assisted me the much they could. Like I said earlier, I survive through the assistance of friends.”

ETERNALLY GRATEFUL

Onyeka remained grateful to the former Bauchi governor M’uazu, who also gave him hope to live.

“The late Yakubu and I were discharged from UCH on May 27, 2000 still in wheel chair. I could recollect two ambulances sent by the Bauchi state Government to bring us back to Bauchi. I’m grateful to the state government for offsetting the hospital bills. They also provided the ambulance that took me home to Nsukka on September 15, 2000.”

Armed with hope and Joseph’s story, Onyeka was determined to walk again. He sought the medical assistance of a traditional bone setter at Nsukka, more out of desperation and fund. “The moment the bone setter, a woman, saw me, she told my family to take the wheel chair home that I will not sit on it until I stand on my feet. To the glory of God, after nine months I started standing up on my feet. Wikki Tourist players were there to see me after their game against Enugu Rangers. Their visit gave me more strength to fight for survival. I spent three years there and was discharged in 2003. I spent over N1.5 million; up till now I’ve not paid the money but promised to come back. I found favour with the owner of the home so she allowed me go home. So I still owe them. If you calculate the interest on the sum from then till now you’ll know how much I owe (laughs).

“That is why I’m begging Bauchi State government to pay me my two years salary arrears and pay me off so that I can go back and pay them because right now it looks as if I ran away. I will also start something meaningful to earn money so that I’ll not continue depending on friends to survive.”

Following years of neglect, Onyeka condition is now critical. “I can’t do anything for a living. My children have been sent out of school because of school fees. I’ve not gone for medical checkup since I was discharged from hospital in 2000. I had surgery on my back as I’m talking to you, I still have pains. I can’t sit down for long. I really need assistance that’s why I’m crying out to Bauchi state governor Sen. Bala Mohammed to use his good office to come to my aid. He is a good man who has solved problems that are bigger than mine. I served Wikki meritoriously so I’m optimistic that he will solve my problem.”

OPTIMIST

Onyeka is indeed an incurable optimist. Asked if he does not regret choosing football for a career, he replied calmly: “Football is my life; I can’t stop loving the game despite what happened. In fact, this is the time I love the game most. I’m always a happy man; what happened doesn’t affect my state of mind because nothing happens without God allowing it. God has let me focused on my healing not wallowing in self pity and regretting not travelling to Europe. In fact, He opened my eyes to see things differently. What if I had abandoned Wikki travelled to Europe and something worse happened what will I do? Would Wikki management have taken care of me? Of course not because I did not put the team that brought me to limelight first. In any condition one finds himself, give glory to God. I don’t regret anything. My name Onyekachi, ‘who is greater than God carries me on.’

He said he would support any of his children to play football on their count.

“I will allow my son to play for Wikki. I know by that time Wikki will be better than what it is now and when we were there. I have three kids, two girls and a boy. The boy is my second child he plays but the last girl plays too. In fact, she’s a fantastic left footer. If Wikki have a female team she will play for them and then go ahead to wear the green white green for Nigeria. I can’t wait for that day to come,” added Onyeka.