The Nation Newspaper

Category: SOS

  • USMAN ILERIKA: Memorable moments with my adopted father, Haruna Ilerika

    He was named Haruna Usman Afolayan at birth, but the world renamed him Usman Haruna Ilerika after the Lagos-born iconic footballer. After many years Usman encountered his adopted father face to face, and realized he has taken the best decision of his life by officially adopting the name, without knowing.

    Speaking exclusively with Taiwo Alimi, current head coach of Nigeria U-15 team described his times with the late and famous Nigeria and Super Stores striker, as memorable and inspirational.

    “Growing up as a little boy people just started calling me by the name Haruna Ilerika and the name just stuck to me. Those who watch me play believe that I play like Haruna Ilerika coupled with the fact that I bear Haruna; my fans just added Ilerika in front and started calling me Haruna Ilerika. Since many people don’t even remember my real name, so I decided to make it official. Haruna Ilerika is not my biological father.

    “It was an interesting encounter for me when I eventually met him in Lagos in 2002. I was introduced to Ilerika by my boss, the then President of Nigeria football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdulahi. I fell in love with him that instant. He spoke to me nicely and I was impressed with his philosophy and admire what he represented nationally and globally. In 2006, we met again and we had an extensive discussion on the growth of soccer and its administration in our country. He was a man of honour and deserved everything in this world. He was loaded with great ideas on how to move football forward. My encounters with him showed me that he’s a father that every society would like to have. It is just unfortunate that death did not allow him to enjoy the fruit of his labour. When he died in 2008 I wrote a letter through the FCT FA to the family and the Lagos FA to commensurate with them. He’s my adopted father and I love him dearly. I’m happy I adopted his name and I can’t afford to let him down. ”

    The Kwara State-born shares his life story as a footballer, administrator and coach saying his life revolves around nurturing and developing young footballers. Excerpts:

    Growing up

    I attended NEPA Primary school, Kainji where my parents works with NEPA for 35 years. I also attended Osi Secondary school before proceeding to Kwara State Polytechnic Ilorin and eventually finished at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria (ABU) in the year 1994 with a degree in political Science. I was playing for Kainji NEPA but on getting to ABU I joined the ABU Workers FC and was playing for the team even as an undergraduate. During the World University games, Kano 1993, former Super Eagles coordinator Mr Emmanuel Atta, saw me and requested NYSC to post me and others to Abuja. He was then with NYSC Strikers FC and that was how I became their player.

    Soccer administration and coaching

    I am doing the two. My official job as a staff of Federal Capital Territory administration where my salary comes from makes me an administrator because I’m the secretary FCT Football Association and at the same time, I’m a professional coach. I went through the rigour of training as a professional coach; first at the National Institute for Sport and then studied at KMVP Training school in Netherlands where I obtained a certificate. On my return I did CAF C and CAF B coaching course respectively and I am waiting for CAF A to complete it. I also have masters in public administration.

    Coaching is in my blood.  Even after leaving service I was still playing for NYSC Strikers and helping the NYSC to coach the Corpers Team, which I did for 11 years. Even all the years that I played for NEPA, a pro league team then, I was still coaching the NYSC team to be able to sharpen my drive to help the youth.

    While working with Sani Lulu and coaching the NYSC team, we had a friendly match with FCDA Team, a national amateur side and we defeated them. The team manager, Tajudeen Tiamiyu, thereafter, drafted me as an assistant coach to his team in 2001. In that team was Juwon Osanunwa, who later played for Super Eagles.

    I later moved on to FC Abuja owned by EFCC and now bearing EFCC FC. I tutored the club for four and a half years before I resigned and faced administration only. I have always been into youth development and that is where my passion lies. I established an academy for my wife after attracting her from the medical profession into football knowing that with her support, the sky would be the limit for us. The academy was established in 2008 in Abuja and it is waxing stronger. It is grooming players free of charge and my joy is that I am giving back to the youth. I was instrumental to the setting up of Fosla Football Academy owned and financed by Sani Lulu Abdullahi. In-fact I was the one tutoring the boys before the institution was set up.

    It was the same love for youth development that took me to the U-15 national team. We started with the U-13 boys in 2008 with Kelechi Iheanacho set, Chidera Eze, Saliu Ibrahim, Udo, the goalkeeper and so many of them. Lazarus John and many others. They moved to the U-17 and today some of them are now playing in the U-23 and the Super Eagles. What gladdens my heart is the passion and training to develop a template inculcated into these young ones to turn them to great players and make something of their lives.

    Philosophy

    My philosophy as a coach is for me to be able to produce world-class players. Players that can represent Nigeria at the world stage, a player that people can appreciate in his spoken English, composure, and be able to maintain a responsible future for himself. Combining education and football is one of my biggest thinking and philosophy to life. Players should be able to have a future after football. A lot has happened that life becomes extremely difficult for people after the game. I remember the day I had injury while playing for NEPA, even the managing director and official could not understand the kind of injury I had but because I had my certificate to fall back on was my saving grace. I had injury seven years after leaving University and I was able to move on to the next stage of my life.

    I want to see the life of a footballer that you can still be responsible even after retirement. This game has a lot of diversification. We have people who are player agents, coaches, administrators, even within administration you have a lot of roles; stadium administration, physiotherapy and back room works that could accommodate a lot of people. We don’t have to be miscreants after this game.

    In my team, I use to sit with them and tell them so many things about life. What life owes them and what they owe life? I explain to them their role with their parents, coaches, immediate family and other things. This is what they can gain from me. If it is in the area of football coaching, they would meet many coaches as they move on but what they would remember me for is what I’m teaching them at a tender age. They will look back and say coach say this and coach say that.

    Life experience

    I’ve met a lot of people working for youth players. In trying not to embarrass myself and the country I try to inculcate my philosophy that must be acceptable to my assistant and my boys and to the society itself. When we were in Japan in June, the Nigeria ambassador to Japan, when addressing us said ‘coach, one of the thing that makes me a happy person today was the way people were talking inside the state box how Nigeria is getting used to doing the right thing.’ That even the character of the boys, play pattern and behavioral approach is an exemplary one worth emulating by younger generation. I appreciate the NFF. They are telling us to do the right thing and give us opportunity to be exposed and impact on the lives of others.

    Achievements

    As a player I’ve won the FCT Challenge Cup on four occasions. Twice I won with NEPA FC and once with NYSC FC and once with FCDA FC.  In the coaching area, I’ve won the Federations Cup with EFCC, and play runners up on two occasions, then was adjudged SWAN coach of the year in 2016. At the national levels, we have been able to develop a lot of youth players and most of them are in the present u-17 team. I was a gold medalist at the African Youth Games in Algeria 2014 and in silver in 2018 in Algiers.

    Family

    I was born into a family of seven. We lost our elder sister and I’m the second born of the family. All of us are graduates and we are all doing well. My parents; Mr and Mrs Usman Afolayan are late. I give glory to God that God is using all their children in a good way.  I am married with two great children; a girl and a boy.

  • Arsenal Starlet Joseph Olowu: Alex Iwobi inspires me greatly

    One of Arsenal’s next generation of youngsters, Joseph Olowu speaks candidly about growing up and how Arsenal picked him up at as a 13-year-old and the influence of Alex Iwobi on his career.     

    What were your dreams growing up and why did you settle for football?

    As a young boy growing up I always wanted to be a footballer even though I was good at many sports I was just really passionate about pursuing football as a career.

    Tell us about your growing up years and why did you choose Arsenal ahead of other clubs?

    Growing up I used to play Sunday League football at a local team called Docklands JFC for about 3 years, I really enjoyed playing in that team and I am still close to some of the boys and I also have a fantastic relationship with the manager. I was 13 years of age when I was spotted by Arsenal and I was actually playing for Charlton Athletic on a trial with them in a game against the Gunners. Later that night the scout who actually took me to Charlton called and told my parents that Arsenal had invited me on a six-week trial with them. I was playing as a defensive central midfielder but straight away I was asked to play centre back by the coaches at Hale End.  I was an Arsenal fan but was quite relaxed because I did not raise my hopes too high. I thought that Arsenal were such a big club, they have their choice of the best players from around the world so my chances of being taken on would be slim. My thinking was that I would at least have experienced the opportunity of a trial with my club.  Because I was so laid back about would happen I was able to play my natural game. I was five weeks into the trial and after a match against Crystal Palace, I was invited to sign.

    My parents are from Nigeria and I am eligible to play for either Nigeria or England. Alex Iwobi has really been an inspiration to me and to my team mate Tobi Omole who I also live within digs in Cockfosters. He came through the Arsenal Youth system and is doing so well. He scored against Zambia in the World Cup qualifiers the other week and his name is growing and growing in African football. My dad has also noticed that there is a lot of attention being given to Toby and I in the African football forums which must in part also be due to how well Alex has been doing. Arsenal was the first academy that gave me the opportunity to further my football education when I was 13 and it is something I’m really grateful for because I began training with world class coaches and players.

    What are your immediate and long term priorities at Arsenal, do you see your future at the Emirates or you are going to seek greener pastures elsewhere?

    Right now I am very happy at Arsenal and I am enjoying my football, hopefully I can push on and potentially get an opportunity in the first team this season.

    How were your sporting and football heroes, and reasons behind your choices?

    Growing up as a CB I was a massive admirer or both Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic because they were both very dominant CB’s that defended very well and could also be composed in possession of the ball. I was also a big fan of Joseph Yobo because he gave everything for Nigeria whenever he played for the Super Eagles.

    We have a lot of Nigerian-born Britons who have played for Nigeria, are you ready to take that route?

    Yes. I feel that I am ready to represent the Super Eagles.

    Who are the Nigerian players that you are familiar with and what information have you gotten from them?

    I’ve spent quite a lot of time with Kelechi Nwakali and he says that there are some very good players that are playing for the U23’s.

    Describe your style of play and how would you fit into Nigeria plans if you so desire to play for your native country and not country of birth?

    I always think about defending first as a CB and organising players around me throughout the game. I also like being tough in tackles and heading but when it does come to playing with the ball I am very composed in possession and like to pass the ball around a lot.

    Tell us about your family and what role are they playing in your career?

    My family has been a massive help on my career because they always try to attend as many matches as possible to show their support and whenever I need words of encouragement and prayers they are always there to provide them

    What do you think about the crop of Nigerian players in England, who are your close pals?

    The amount of talented Nigerian players in England is endless and the ones I’m closest to are Tobi Omole, Tolaji Bola, Nnamdi Ofoborh and Tom Dele

    What’s your life philosophy?

    For me they are three simple words; honestly, loyalty, authenticity.

  • SYLVESTER IGBOUN: I haven’t suffered racism in Russia

    Six caps Super Eagles striker Sylvester Emeka Igboun has done well for himself in the Russian league since moving there from Denmark four years ago. He has scored 25 times playing for FC Ufa prompting his biggest move yet to Russia top club Dynamo Moscow. Though on loan, he was called upon to beef up Dynamo’s attack and he believes he can deliver. Speaking exclusively with Taiwo Alimi, the speedy poacher chats about life in Russia, loan switch to Dynamo Moscow, racism and the Super Eagles snub. Excerpts:

    Dynamo Moscow move

    It’s a great move for me and a reward for my hard work. I am satisfied with my stay at Ufa, and the management and fans were happy with what I did. I enjoyed the atmosphere which was conducive for me. I will forever cherish the opportunity given me to prove myself. I am still loyal to the club because I am in Dynamo Moscow on loan. I thank God for everything because without him I wouldn’t have been here and I love the new challenge.

     

    Expectations

    I don’t need to be told why I am here. My work is to score goals and work with my teammates to create more. Since I got here, I’ve been made to feel at home by the wonderful team, who are professionals and ambitious. I am also ambitious and I believe we can write history together. I want to do better than what I have done in the past and I am already challenging myself; with God on my side, I will deliver. I am here to contribute to the team’s success and be a part of history.

     

    Beyond loan deal

    It is a mutual understanding that they want me and I want them too. I am looking forward to reciprocate their belief in me by scoring goals and putting the team in a comfortable zone on the table in order for them to retain me after the loan deal. I am here to prove that I deserve better than a loan deal.

     

    25 goals for Ufa

    I want to challenge myself to go beyond the 25 goals I got with Ufa. As a striker, the numbers of goals you score or miss determine your quality. What helped me in Ufa is that the season was injury-free for me. I played lots of games without injury and I’m looking forward to replicating that here. More matches without injury will translate to more goals.

     

    Target

    My personal target is not to let my team down at any point. I want to prove myself to the coach and fans by working for the success of the team. It all boils down to scoring goals. I’m also looking forward to helping the team achieve European ticket at the end of the season.

     

    Pressure to score goals

    Sincerely speaking, I don’t feel pressured to score goals from the fans. I work hard and try to work with my teammates for good results while maintaining some level of confidence that I can achieve it once I put my mind to it. That’s what I am looking forward to doing for fans of Dynamo Moscow.

     

    Life in Russia

    Russia is great. I am popular with the fans both on and off the pitch. I have settled in nicely and blended with the environment well. It’s like I have been living there for 20 years. Russia is home for me just like Nigeria. I have adapted well to their culture which has really helped my career. Yes, there’s cold but I’m used to it now.

     

    Racism

    I don’t believe in racism, I have been in Russia for four years and I have not suffered racist remarks. When you talk of racism, in-fact I see in Nigeria, my country, every day. I’ve seen Nigerian airport officials treat their own people with contempt while Europeans are well treated. So when you talk about racism I don’t see Russia as one. I move in and out of Russia with respect from everybody but I suffer more disrespect in Nigeria than in Europe. To answer your question, I have not faced any racism in Russia.

     

    Russian league and dominance of Zenith Petersburg

    Well, at the moment it’s not Zenith Petersburg at the top that will tell you the league is becoming more competitive. FC Krasnodar is at the top and lots of clubs are gearing up to catch points and contest for the league title. It’s going to be a tough season for all clubs. Even the promoted teams are proving not to be walkovers and the middle clubs are really trying to shore up more points. So, it’s going to be an interesting season with lots of shock results. And don’t forget that my Dynamo is also in the race for the title.

     

     

    Super Eagles snub

    I think this is a question that should be directed to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the national team coach. As a striker, I am doing my job by playing regularly and scoring goals without injury, and don’t forget that I cannot in vite myself, the only way I can do that is by scoring goals and giving my best to my club which I have done on numbers of occasions. I have been there before and I did my best to the best of my understanding. I have proven myself at club level over time and so it’s left to the coach to decide on whom to bring for the team.

    And don’t forget the last World Cup was hosted here and I was at my best and nothing happened. I am not worried.

     

    Philosophy

    I believe in the grace of God and hard work. I am fortunate to have what I have today. I am a humble person who believes that it is God that lifts one up. I make people happy and don’t believe in making noise about what God has done for me. I am a God fearing man that loves happiness and that’s why I have been able to reach a stage where I believe and I know God lives.

     

    If not football…

    Football has given me joy in life. It has made me to break barriers and it has taken me places. I must appreciate everybody that supported the struggle from the beginning. But if I haven’t chosen football as career, I would have become a musician; it runs in my blood.

  • FAN NDUBUOKE – Our mission and vision to rebuild Imo sport

    Executive Chairman Imo State Sports Commission, Chief Fan Ndubuoke in this interview with Desmond Ekwueme speaks on his appointment and the task before his commission in the Rebuild Imo agenda of the government of Governor Emeka Ihedioha. Excerpt

    Many opine that yours is a herculean task given the state of sports in Imo before your appointment yet they suggest that with your vast experience in sports administration the job would be easier. Do you share this view?

    Well, I am glad that virtually everyone understands and appreciates that things had really gone from bad to worst with sports in our beloved state. This like you rightly observed makes the task at hand very difficult. But the correction process if you permit me to use that coinage is not about me or me alone.

    Perhaps this is why His Excellency in his wisdom pulled together in this board men and women of vast experience, knowledge and success in their various and respective endeavours to drive the process of rebuilding sports targeted at rebuilding Imo in general. These are people from the private sector who have carved niches for themselves and will bring their wealth of experience to bear on this task.

    So it is not about Fan Ndubuoke but a collective responsibility of all stakeholders in sports including of course the board members of the Commission who will supervise and midwife the whole process.

    So what is your first obligation in this rebuilding process through the Sports?

    The Commission is operating on a three-point agenda namely to return to the grassroots and academicals where we hope to discover, nurture and manage athletes to achieve greater feats for themselves, Imo State and the country in general. Secondly, to embark on aggressive marketing and sponsorship drive which will support and boost our plan of establishing tournaments and competitions from the U-15 categories across major sports which the state has comparative advantages and thirdly, to train and retrain coaches for optimum performance which will attract rewards, recognition and awards on individual basis.

    So our operations start within this framework. Already our contingent are in Ilorin attending the 5th National Youth Games which the Commission is closely monitoring to identify youths who will form the nucleus of our preparation for next year’s National Sports Festival. Of course we hope to come up with tournaments and competitions after the Youth Games to serve as sources of discovering talents who will be nurtured and managed for the purpose of representing both the state and the country successfully.

    Funding has been the bane of sports development generally in Nigeria, how do you hope to tackle this major problem?

    There is no doubt that funding is a major challenge to sports development. But thankfully we have a governor who understands or shares this view. Imo State is very fortunate that His Excellency is so passionate about sports.

    He has proven this by awarding contract following due process for the renovation and rehabilitation of the famous Dan Anyiam Stadium. He has started the process of ensuring that the 27 LGAs in the state have a befitting sports complex. These are proofs of the governor’s commitment and genuine step taken to return sports in Imo to where it belongs.

    With this goodwill which supports funding, the Commission already has a solid foundation to stand on in pursuing funding through aggressive marketing process and sponsorship drive. Sports is big business and with the calibre of men and women from the private sector who the governor assembled in the Commission certainly we will vigorously strive to achieve much in this fundamental area.

    It is one of our major objectives on the board to ensure that sports successfully fund itself especially as His Excellency has provided the leverage for this.

    Are you pursuing the development of all the 27 sports in the defunct Sports Council or will you Commission focus on some sports?

    We hope to develop sports generally in the state but we will do this by focusing on the sports our state has comparative advantages. We will train and retrain our coaches and deploy most of them to the LGAs for grassroots sports development. By grassroots sports development we will cash on the proposed sports complexes in the LGAs to organise U-15 tournaments and competitions where talents -15 will be identified, groomed and managed for greater performance and success.

    We will build a strong marketing and sponsorship team to help in the area of funding and reduce reliance on government. We will involve the private sector hugely in this regard. We have men and women in the board of the Commission whose goodwill would open doors in our discussions with the movers and shakers of the private sector. With the likes of Nwankwo Kanu and Charity Opara among others, we should push through in this plan.

    We would partner with a lot of organisations and sports bodies in creating transparency in our programs and activities to further attract members of the private sector for funding.

    A lot of Imo athletes represent other states, what are your plans to stop this exodus of athletes out of your state?

    His Excellency has raised concern over this very disturbing and unfortunate development which arises as a result of the treatment meted out to athletes and the nonchalant attitude of previous administration and government towards sports.

    Our Commission is planning to establish a program through an event to bring back our athletes and coaches. This will be graced by His Excellency as we hope to reincorporate them into the system which they left. We hope to make the sporting environment in Imo very much conducive for them. I guess with this and more we hope to put a stop to what you rightly termed an exodus of athletes and coaches of Imo indigenes to other states.

    You are known for your hard stand on due process and professionalism, what changes are athletes expecting from you?

    The board has agreed to fight age cheat in sports. We won’t condone it. We don’t want anyone to embarrass our state in any form. We will decisively deal with anyone who errs in this regards by fielding ineligible athletes for any tournament or competition. We will also fight drug use. We plan to establish our own doping centre to handle this by nipping it in the bud. We won’t give room for complacency. We won’t tolerate indiscipline and distraction of frictions between athletes and officials over money, funds or entitlements.

    You earlier mentioned the issue of training and retraining coaches, how do you hope to achieve this?

    Of course we believe in people upgrading and developing themselves professionally. We will assist the coaches in the regard. We know that they were relegated to the background just like sports by previous administration. We hope to give them a sense of belonging.

    This we will do by sending them on courses, seminars and organising workshops for them. Whatever they benefit from these they will plough back into the system through grooming the athletes professionally for optimum result and success.

  • EZINNE KALU – Choosing Nigeria ahead of US was my best move

    Adeyinka Adedipe reports that 2019 Afrobasket Championship MVP (Most Valuable Players) Nigeria’s Ezinne Kalu is a consummate sportswoman whose decision to represent fatherland Nigeria ahead of adopted country U.S is her best move yet.    

    Ezinne Kalu announced her arrival into Nigeria basketball scene in 2016 with a deafening bang. It was at the Women Olympic Qualifying tournament (OQT) which took place in Nantes, France. Up for grabs were five places in that year’s Olympic Games in Brazil. The D’Tigress had lost to Belarus 61-70 in the opening group game and needed to win the next tie against Korea to have any chance of qualifying. The Koreans also needed a win to stay in contention for an Olympic ticket. The odds were against the Nigerian team but the D’Tigress had other ideas.

    The game against the Koreans turned out to be a keenly-contested tie as both team ran neck-to-neck throughout the game with the Koreans leading 69-67 with five seconds to go. The Nigerians made a fast break with the ball ending in the hands of Adaora Elonu at the right hand side of the opponent area. She sent a pass to Kalu who released the ball into the air for a three-point winning throw to send the Nigerian team into wild jubilation at the end of the game.

    Though Kalu’s heroic was not enough to take the D’Tigress to Brazil, it was clear she had done enough to merit a place in the star-studded Nigerian team and she has since become a regular, leading Nigeria to back-to-back win at the Women Afrobasket in 2017 in Mali and 2019 in Senegal; and staring in Nigeria’s quarter final finish at the FIBA World Cup in Spain last year.

    Despite her achievement in the game, Kalu stated that the win against Korea at the OQT gave her career a major boost and helped build her confidence. She once had a stint with the junior national teams, but it was the OQT that gave her the recognition befitting of a player with such immense talent.

    She stated: “When playing against Korea I believe I went 0-4 (can’t remember exactly) from the three point line. Because of this, my confidence was non-existent. I felt like I was not helping the team because I wasn’t shooting to the best of my ability. I knew I could do better and I patiently waited for that opportunity. And it came when Adaora Elonu passed me that ball with four seconds left. Immediately, the ball rested on my palms, something came over me and I knew this was the shot that would make a huge difference. With my feet set and eyes on the rim, I aimed for victory. As soon as the ball entered the basketball, missing my first four three pointers no longer mattered because I had made that one three pointer that helped us win.”

    But Kalu’s journey to France and subsequently to international stardom through Nigeria was not without hiccups. According to her, growing up was always difficult despite being in the United States (U.S). One would have expected a rosy upbringing but she had to weather a lot of adversities to get to where is now.  She, however, said that the support system she got from her family and the society made her a better player and person. “Although life for me wasn’t always the best growing up, it still was a blessing to wake up every day knowing that things will get better. All the experiences I went through in life has made me the person I am today. And with the great support system I have behind me, life always seems to get a little easier.

    It was not a surprise that the point guard emerged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2019 Afrobasket in Senegal as she had always loved sports as a teenager. Basketball has always been the sports she enjoyed playing but volleyball helped her to be in shape when she was not involved in basketball. According to her, she flirted with so many sports as a teenager but settled for volleyball and basketball. “I actually played so many sports which has helped me greatly in my basketball career.

    “I did so many sports. In my sophomore year in high school, I played varsity volleyball. Both the seasons were back to back, so volleyball was a great way to get in shape for the basketball season. I was actually pretty good too. I played outside hitter and middle.  My family was very supportive when I decided to play basketball. My mom and dad always wanted me to have a job that I loved and that made me happy. Playing basketball does just that. I get to travel the world and experience so many different cultures.

    For the Kalus, sports runs in the family especially in the younger generation who are actively involved in sporting activities. “My aunt was an amazing player in college. She attended UMASS Lowell in Boston. I believe she could have gone to the WNBA but due to an injury she chose a different career path. She is a retired Sergeant for the Boston Police Department. I also have my niece who is learning to play. I have a few small cousins who are playing for their middle school teams. As far as the older generation (anything after the 90s) I am the only one playing a professional sport.

    Kalu, revealed that growing up with dual citizenship helped her decide to play for Nigeria. “My mom is American, and my dad is Nigerian, which would explain the dual citizenship. I have one older brother and two older sisters on my mom side. On my Dad side of the family, I have two younger sisters and one younger brother. Although we are much older now and living in separate locations, we have always bonded and got along well. Of course, there were moments when we didn’t agree but we always managed to see the big picture. That picture was having each other’s back no matter the circumstance. We were family and we cannot replace each other.

    For every athlete, making the right career decision has always been key to success, while some have snubbed their fatherland to star for adopted country in the hope that such move would take them to the pinnacle of their career, Kalu had no such misgiving when she got her first call up to represent Nigeria at the junior level. More so, she was not disturbed about the culture change that may confront her when she got to Lagos. Rather, she decided to give it a go while hoping for the best.

    “When I first got called up for the junior national team in 2012, I was surprised but it was a journey I wanted to embark on. After that, a few years went by and I was asked to join the senior team; I knew my career would take a huge leap. That “wow” feeling in the beginning quickly changed to “Oh my God.” To represent a whole country on a national stage was a huge blessing. I was happy to be a part of something that would turn out to be amazing and groundbreaking.”

    The decision to represent Nigeria paid off as she was adjudged the MVP of the last Women Afrobasket in Dakar. It didn’t come easy as she had to grind out top performance in all the games and lifted the D’Tigress to another win. Despite this achievement, she remains humble dedicating the award to the entire team. “I am very humbled by this achievement. It was not easy at all and I didn’t do it alone. My teammates put me in a position to do my best. There are so many talented players in the Afrobasket so the fact that I was able to stand out just shows that I am getting better and this is only the beginning.

    The final game against Senegal was going Nigeria’s way until the last quarter when the host went on a 10-0 run to briefly take the lead before the Nigerians bounced back in style to record the famous win and send the entire 15,000 Senegalese fans into mourning. The sweet aspect of the victory is that the Nigerian won back-to-back title beating the Senegalese on both occasions and stamping their authority on women basketball in the continent.

    For grinding out the win, Kalu described the entire team as warriors who were ready to go the extra mile to win a battle. “I would describe us as warriors. We overcome adversity with such poise. We work hard and give maximum effort. We stand by each other. When someone falls, we all pick them up. And even though we all have our individual goals, as a team we have one goal and that is to be the best and stay the best.

    “Even when we were down and the Senegalese continued their fight in the last quarter our coaches told us to do what we do best and play our game. We have been here before. We are prepared for this battle. As for us the players, there was something that lived within all of us that came out at just the right time. It was fire. It was massive strength and determination. We won the trophy in 2017 and we told ourselves no one was going to take it from us.”

    She continued: “The energy and atmosphere in Dakar arena were incredible. To play in the type of arena was a blessing. In my opinion, even a college arena could not compare to that type of environment. I believe we put the pressure on ourselves as a team. We didn’t want to disappoint ourselves as well as our country. The best way we handled that pressure was by staying together on the floor. Huddling after every whistle and encouraging each other to block out the noise of 15,000 people. Just play our game. We had each other’s backs. Right or wrong, we supported one another until the final buzzer.

    Though resolute, D’Tigress had to put up with the antics of some of the Senegalese fans who were bent on distracting the Nigerian players, having realized that the Nigerians had a better prospect of beating their team and retaining the title. She, however, praised most of the Senegalese fans were nice to them even after beating their team. “Besides those few incidents that happened, some of the Dakar fans were actually nice to us and enjoyed watching us play throughout the entire tournament. Some asked to take pictures with our players and some even asked for a piece of clothing that they could remember us with. It felt great to know that all 15,000 plus fans didn’t hate us. It was an overwhelming feeling when the final buzzer sounded. Winning back to back championship and going undefeated was an amazing feeling.”

    Her exploit in Dakar has earned her an ambassadorial role with AFA Sports, the official kit manufacturers of the D’Tigers. She describes the new role as a blessing. “To become a part of an amazing brand like AFA Sports is such a huge blessing. I’ve always looked up to athletes specifically women who had broken barriers representing brands that promote athletes. AFA Sports is a brand that does just that.

    “Consistency and work ethic has always been my core values when it comes to the game of basketball. Especially since the goal is to continue playing at the highest level. Being a member of the AFA Sports team would motivate me to do that. I’m extremely excited to be a part of something amazing. I am looking forward to what’s in store for me, Keep an eye out for a celebratory capsule collection and get ready to grab yourself a piece of sports history thanks to leading premium active wear brand, AFA Sports.

    “I am very excited about this new role. To be the first official ambassador is groundbreaking and it comes with a lot of responsibility. That includes always being professional on and off the court as well as having the natural ability to lead. I also have to be versatile and authentic. Lastly, you must have passion for building and growing relationships. It comes with quite a few rewards. Right now, we are working on some great things. I can’t wait for everyone to see, she added.

    The alumni of Savanah State University, is back to her club, Landerneau Bretagne Basket in France to continue her improvement. “I am back at my club and they all love the fact that I won the Afrobasket with Nigeria. It is a nice being a champion. I will relish this for long.”

    She described playing for Nigeria as a huge dream and will continue to do so as long as she can. “Putting up the green and while colours is a huge dream come true. I will continue to play until my body tells me enough. My body feels great now so let’s say another 10 more years.The Olympic qualifiers are around the corner but I am sure all the players will be ready. Although everyone is with their clubs, we are all staying in contact, getting mentally and physically ready. We are holding each other accountable and making sure that we remind each other that our journey is not over.”

  • ALEX IWOBI: I want to be Premiership legend

    QUICK TAKE

    Favourite Female Artist: Mikki Minaj
    Favourite Male Artist: Drake
    Favourite Nickname: Big 17
    Favourite Comic Hero: Captain America
    Favourite Holiday Spot: Dubai
    Favourite Player(S): Okocha, Ronaldinho,
    Favourite Sport: Basketball
    Favourite Actor: Will Smith
    Favourite Nigerian Food: Pounded Yam

    With a goal in two appearances for new club, Everton, Nigeria player Alex Iwobi believes he’s in for a glorious Premiership season. Describing his move to the North London club as ‘not shocking,’ as reported by Premiership followers, he noted that it was a culmination of series of talks with Everton manager, Marco Silva. “He called me repeatedly and said he would like me to fill a spot in his team. He has accomplished so much and I respect him.”

    The 23-year-old had been one of Silva’s primary summer targets, since last season following his impressive stats in the Premiership. Iwobi started 22 Premier League games and scored three goals with seven assists.

    His aim, Iwobi added, is to become a Premiership legend. “When I spoke to the manager during the holiday he was telling me that there is a spot for you. I will take care of you. Basically, they were ready to do all the things that needed and gave me the confidence that all is well. It was too much for me to turn down. I’m ready for a new challenge, new chapter in my life.”

    Iwobi was Everton’s seventh and final close-season recruit. He joins fellow young bucks Moise Kean and Jean Philippe Gbamin in completing moves to Goodison Park.

    Iwobi, in this online interview with Taiwo Alimi, speaks further on the Everton challenge, the transfer deal, Arsenal, Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, Mikel Obi and many other things.

     

     

    The Everton deal

    Of course, I was able to look at the playing chances and the fact that some great talents are here (Everton) and more coming in. Not just I but some quality players and I’m excited about the challenge. So far, I’ve been made to feel at home and scoring is quite elating for me. I just know I would do well here. Since I’ve been here I’ve seen how much of a family that I have here. I was welcome well and I can see why it is important to be here. I hope it will be a great time for me.

    Manager Marco Silva

    Before we started talking, I was impressed with the work he has done with the club. He made a name for himself as a coach and he has made many players to reach the height of their game. I hope he would do the same thing for me and that would make me very happy. He went all to get me and that is because he believes in me and has high expectation on me. All I want to do is do even better than he expects.

     

    Expectation

    I have great expectation of myself. At the back of my mind all I’ve wanted to do is to be a great player and Arsenal gave me the opportunity to aspire to that and I hope to even do better here. I’m looking forward to it. This is the opportunity to make a name for myself in the Premiership and create some kind of history. I hope that one day I would also be a Premiership legend like my Uncle (Jay Jay Okocha) and many others that I look up to. That is my dream.

    I came through the rank of Arsenal Academy. I’m only 23 and have had more than a 100 Premiership games and hope that I can take bigger responsibility in Everton. I’m determined and hungry. That is a big part that is needed to succeed. I want to improve my game and give everything. I want basically to be more efficient and get more goals. I have the fighting spirit to go all out and this is what gets me to where I am today. Hard work and determination are the ingredients of success.

     

    Everton challenge

    I always had that youngster tag at Arsenal, so hopefully with this move I am able to make a name for myself. The challenge is here because like Arsenal there are world class players here but even in Arsenal I was not doing badly. I’m sure I can get into Everton squad. It is not going to be easy but I know we shall get there.

    The X-factor

    Aside from determination and hunger for success I try to work hard. You have to work hard to retain your place when you are in the midst of quality players. Because when you slip up another is there to take your place. So you always have to be on top of your game.

     

    Arsenal

    Arsenal made me what I am. I learnt a lot of tricks there from the academy. I’m happy with my stats there, especially last season. I have progressed as the stats have shown. I have gotten involved in a few more goals; I had many good moments there. So many great moments: from scoring my first goal at the Emirates to scoring my last goal in Baku. I’ve been through fantastic coaches who have played a big part in my 17 fantastic years. It was an honour to play for the club I supported as a boy. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. Arsenal means the world to me. I grew up dreaming of playing for Arsenal, following in the footsteps of some of my heroes. I’m proud to say that at 23 I’ve achieved one of my dreams; from playing for Arsenal kids to 149 senior appearances. Special thanks to the fans, my team mates, the support staff, my coaches Arsene Wenger and Unai Emery who put faith in me and gave me the opportunity to grow as a player and a man.

     

    AFCON 2019

    It was my first. We did well in the qualifiers, it wasn’t an easy group and we did very well. We knew it wasn’t going to be a walk in the pack. Everybody wanted to beat Nigeria. And we knew it’s been a while since we played at the Africa Cup of Nations.

    Against Cameroon and South Africa I’d say we lifted our game and dug deep. It gave us confidence to go till the end.

    We knew the game against Algeria was not going to be easy because they were the tournament favourite but we did not disappoint. We had a great tournament.

    I had a good tournament and same goes for my teammates too. AFCON bronze makes me feel good. And that is to reinforce the fact that we are getting there. We are not there yet. We are also very young, so the future is still bright. The team is still young, we have lots of young players. There is a lot of hope, a bright future ahead of us.

    I’ve been very blessed to be given the opportunity to play for the Super Eagles. I always wanted to represent and play for Nigeria. I’m always hungry and eager to show that I want to represent my country and do them proud. The players are marvellous and respectful too.

     

    Mikel Obi

    Obi was like a big brother and he inspired all of us. He’s got experience and that helped us a lot too. He was always ready to take responsibility and helped the coach a lot speaking up about ideas we need to look into. He inspires me. He’s always talking to me and tries to help me with my game because he’s a bit different playing on the African continent and to play in Europe; so he’s always there to help me and guide me when I’m playing.

    My goal in AFCON was special and my family, mum and dad were proud of me. They are proud of the progress I’ve made playing for Nigeria and I will not let them down.

     

    Unwinding

    I fiddle with my phone a lot. I use it for lots of things and you will always see me on it when I’m not playing football or training. It is in fact the first thing I turn to when I wake up. I listen to music a lot and at the moment I’m in love with Canadian rapper Drake.

  • AFRICAN GAMES GOLD MEDALIST SADE OLATOYE : My dream is to be a doctor one day

    For 2019 African Games gold medalist Sade Olatoye, being a doctor one day would be a fulfilled dream.
    The Ohio State athlete competed in the women’s shot put in Rabat, Morocco and punched her ticket to the world championships with a first place finish. Her first-round attempt of 16.61m was good enough for the gold medal.
    The women’s track and field champion also won bronze in the hammer throw, throwing a distance of 16.61m to secure her win. She said she’s excited to represent her fatherland. ”This is my first time of representing Nigeria. As a first timer, it has been pretty amazing meeting everyone. I am excited to represent my country.”
    In this chat with Akeem Lawal, the Ohio State Female Athlete of the Year also revealed her love for popular Nigerian delicacy, pounded yam with egusi soup, amongst other issues.

     

    Are you satisfied with your performance in Rabat?
    My performance was not too bad. I was close to my personal best. We have issues with the officials mismarking some of my throws. They were marking me shorter than what I threw. But I still came out on top after battling through the obstacles and come out first. So I’m happy to have a gold medal here.
    How much does this medal mean to you?
    It means the world to me. Being able to come here and place first, qualify for worlds, it’s amazing. It is what I’ve been training for all years.
    How will you rate your fellow competitors at the Games?
    The competition was not too bad. I only go to competition and focus on myself rather than others. You know you can’t let them distract you. You can’t let any other thing distract you. So I focus on myself and do my best.
    You’ve qualified for the World Championship, how are you looking forward to that?
    I am super excited. I’ve been trying for all year, being NCWA athlete and coming straight from the NCCA Championship, it has been a motivation boost for me as I come off a long season and continue going forward is something I’m really proud about myself. I give thanks to my family, my coach for supporting me.
    How easy was it to make up your mind to represent Nigeria?
    I’ve been looking forward to represent Nigeria all my life. Being able to represent on a senior stage has always been my goal. So being able to get in touch with some of the athletes back home and help them motivate me all the way has really benefited me.So it has been a pleasure to represent my country. My parents are from here and being born here as well, it’s been amazing.
    How has it been combining education with sport?
    Education means the most. Without education you can’t go anywhere in life. So Athletics has always been something on the side that I do as well. Thanks to my parents for the amazing gift they are giving me. I am happy to make them proud.
    Apart from athletics what else do you do?
    I am a very personal person. I am a Pre-Med track and I want to become a doctor one day. So medical and health care has always been my passion. Being able to connect with the patients is something I really look forward for. I love being able to interact with others.
    How often do you visit Nigeria?
    I’ve been to Nigeria like eight to nine times. My mum is from Efon Alaye and I go home to visit my grandma. I come to Nigeria often.
    Pounded yam is one of the delicacies in Ekiti, do you eat it too?
    Of course I do. That is why I am so strong now (laughs). Pounded yam and egusi, that is what I eat.
    How has moving abroad helped your career?
    Living and training abroad, having the resources in the States (US) is definitely a plus to an athlete. We have more resources. But I think it really depends on how hard you work and the commitment you put in it. I train four hours each and every day. The work you put in it, you will get it back. So if you don’t put more effort in it, you won’t see the results you want to see. So I am proud of myself for working hard. Outside of the classroom, I’m always working hard. My parents raise me that nothing is given, you have to earn it. So you have to earn your place in life.
    How do you handle criticism?
    Of course, there are always people that play on your downfall but I just try to block that out. You don’t like outside things to affect you on the field. So I just tend to ignore it. If someone says something, you will keep smiling and have a positive attitude.
    How supportive were your parents in the sport?
    My parents have always emphasised education for me and my siblings. So after finding out that we also have the ability to do athletics, they support everything that we were interested in.
    They support me on everything I do as long as I kept my ass in my classes, that was fine.
    How do you relax and what kind of music do you enjoy listening to?
    I listen to Davido, Burna Boy… yeye yeyeye everything (laughs). So I listen to Afro beats and I have a couple of songs on my playlist that I use to calm down before I compete.
    You are one of the pretty athletes we have, how do you avoid advancements from guys?
    I’m just focused on what I am worried about. People will always talk to you but you have to have the right intentions. So if I’m focused on and someone is trying to talk to me, I focus on the task ahead; I just say thank you and just continue with what I am doing.
    Can you say a sentence in Yoruba?
    I can say ‘bawo ni?’ (how is it going?) (laughs).

  • BUKOLA OLOPADE: My romance with road races

    Bukola Olopade, CEO of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, patent owners of Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, among other road races, is a man on a mission. The mission is to take road-race to all notable cities in the country and at the same create opportunities and develop support base for talented Nigerian athletes.

    As plans for the fifth Lagos City Marathon enters final lap, Olopade, who was sports commissioner in Ogun State, said it has added The Abeokuta N10km race coming up in November, and the Remo Ultra Race in December of this year, to its races, while Abuja Road Race may happen next year.

    He dreams of taking road races to all important cities and towns in the country to showcase to the rest of the world the unique beauty and passion inherent in Nigerian people and places.

    “In ten years, I’m hoping that the Lagos City Marathon would have achieved platinum with IAAF. We recently introduced a fee to the race, but this was something we told the whole world at the press conference of the maiden edition. We said that at the fifth edition, a fee would be introduced. And we have introduced the fee now for both the 42km and the 10km. The fee is N5000 flat. We are hoping that this initiative would create a better quality race rather than a quantity race. That would give us 60,000 true road runners. Not people who would jump on the bus and come to the finish area and fight for a medal.

    “In 10 years time we like to sit back and say Abeokuta Road Race, Remo Road Race and Uyo and Abuja races are gold label and the almighty Lagos and Abuja road races are platinum. That is our dream. There is a new love for athletics; that is where we are heading.”

    Before road races, Olopade found football. However, he admits athletics has become his newest bride. “Have I discovered a new favourite sport in athletics? The answer is yes. So, you find me in Japan and Qatar to watch world relays and World Championship respectively. I have a new love for athletics and if it is well articulated in this country it would empower many young people.”

    Olopade, however, remembers the days of small beginnings and attributed the success story to people and idea.”

    “To be honest, it is to the credit of Chief Solomon Ogba, the former Commissioner of Sport in Delta State and former AFN (Athletic Federation of Nigeria) president. It was him that threw the challenge at us when he said it was a misnomer for Lagos – one of the biggest megacities in the world – not to have a road race and that road race is becoming a phenomenon all over the world. So, we sat down and came up with a concept, which we took to the former Lagos State government that was able to quickly understand the benefit inherent in a road race and plugged in immediately.”

    Olopade further speaks on his foray into football, wheelchair basketball, politics and his lifestyle in the interview with TAIWO ALIMI.

    Galvanise corporate bodies to come into road races

    First, our integrity was well established. And when you look at the people in Nilayo, we have collectively almost 60 years in sport and combined 30 years in sports marketing and brand and image management. But more importantly is the fact that we discover that it is not true that corporate bodies do not want to come into sports sponsorship, but largely because they have been waiting for people they can trust and whose visions can tally with theirs for them to be able to support graciously what everybody will agree is a veritable tool of empowerment for young Nigerians.

    Motivation

    I don’t know how to tell lies, so I would say the first motivation was how to make money for my company. I did see the opportunity and I have no regret, no apology. But after all said and done, my pride now is that we are part of a global brand that is empowering Nigerians, not just young Lagosians, but Nigerians in general. For me, personally, the fact that the sport that I love so much has now become bread and butter for me, my family, my friends, and my colleagues is a thing of joy. It is gratifying to know that something that you love doing can also be a source of comfort for you.

    From sports commissioner to sports marketing

    My first experience of watching a private sector work with government was the Gateway Games (2006 National Sports Festival) while I was commissioner. And that opened my eyes that the private sector could support sports as long as you have integrity. I always give kudos to my boss, the then governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel. He said ‘Bukola, the world is still scratching the wall as it concerns sports.

    You need to look inward and see how you can make sports your daily living because a lot of people still do not understand that you can make a lot of money from working in the sporting industry.’ These words kept ringing in my ears and to finish this interview without giving credit to him would be unjust and unfair. Yes! My experiences as commissioner was capacity building that I needed to be able to articulate effectively how much sports can bring into the economy and how much sports can be a very important attachment to one’s life.

    Nigeria National League (NNL) walkout

    I’m always reluctant to talk about that, but since you asked I’m going to answer. I left because I thought the NFF in their decision were wrong. I was the CEO of NNL and there was an agreement in Asaba to allow four teams to be promoted and four to be relegated at the end of the season. Whether I was against that agreement or not, the moment the NFF Congress sat down and reached an agreement, it became binding on me. And they came to that agreement because the NFF gave them permission.

    When the NFF turned around I called my friend Amaju (Pinnick), I said I was out because for me, and like I’ve been saying in this interview, integrity matters. What was the agreement we had with Bet9ja? That they would continue to support NNL once the Premier League run by LMC sends down four demoted teams and we sent up four promoted teams. The agreement was breeched without us being carried along by the LMC by not demoting any team and left all teams in the Premier League. I found myself in a situation and I had to make a decision, so I pulled out. Was that why Bet9ja pulled out? I say yes because they felt an agreement has been breached. Rather than taking us to court, they pulled out quietly.

    Wheelchair basketball

    I never left wheelchair basketball. We have Nilayo Basketball Team. We’ve won every competition in the last two years and as a way of support I still do the needful. However, I contested for the president of wheelchair basketball again and Solomon Dalung (Nigeria Sports Minister) in his wisdom, somebody told him that I was going to disturb somebody from becoming the Paralympics chairman and I was disqualified for no reason.

    So I packed my bag and came back to Lagos. But I do not believe that people need to be on a board of a federation to support. So, I’ve never left my children in special sports. They know me and I have a passion for them. In Access Lagos City Marathon, we created space for the wheelchair race and we are doing the same thing in Abeokuta Road Race. I won’t forget them.

    Unwinding

    Like what I’m doing right now. Calling Seyi and Femi (his staff) names but more importantly I have a great crew. They are my friends and colleagues and we play and enjoy ourselves. I do a lot of exercise and eat well.

    Family influence

    I have the most beautiful wife who is my best friend and my pillar. She is a wonderful woman. There are days I pinch myself and ask myself how she still tolerates me. It’s nice to always talk about family. I usually send messages to my team and friends about how important family and friendship are to your personal happiness and not focusing too much on fame and money.

    I have a great family. My children are my life. Apart from my biological children I have hundreds of children and they all make me happy. I am an accomplished man. I often joke, God forbid, that should I die tomorrow there must be a big party because there is no regret. I chop this life no be this life chop me.

  • MASAI UJIRI: Untold story of Toronto Raptors’ conquest in NBA

    He is undoubtedly the man of the moment, and the English-born Nigerian professional basketball executive and president of basketball operations of the Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri, who recently visited Nigeria with the 2019 NBA Championship won under his watch, shares his recipe for success, reports ADEYINKA ADEDIPE.

    Weeks after his team broke the rut and claimed the 2019 NBA championship, English-born Nigerian professional basketball executive and president of basketball operations of the Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri, has yet spoken about the golden landmark.

    Ujiri, who was on a whistle stop NBA Trophy Tour of Lagos recently, has for the first time revealed the momentous time with his wife after he led Raptors to gory against the odds.

    “My wife has been very supportive and she was happy when Raptors won,” the 49-year-old Ujiri who was NBA Executive of the Year in 2013 exclusively told The Nation. “She congratulated me specially and noted that I worked hard for it; she said she was proud of me and t is good to hear from people that are close to you;  and those are obviously intimate moments (after we won the NBA title).”

    The forward-looking Ujiri continued with a breathy purr: “The win (with Raptors) is the beginning of a new journey for me.

    “The first thought that came to me as soon as the buzzer in San Francisco sounded was my beautiful wife, my family, my kids my mother in law and people close to me.

    “The next I thought about was home, Africa. I am proud that I won the trophy, my team won the trophy for Africa and then I proceeded to get the Nigerian flag and wrap it around me.

    “So I really appreciate all those that have contributed to this success. I also appreciate all the journalists that have reported Toronto Raptors and Giant of Africa (GOA) as well as everybody that has continued to contribute to the growth of the game.”

    Apart from his wife, Ujiri has also spoken candidly about his close relationship with controversial entertainer, Drake, and his unquantifiable contributions to the success of Raptors.

    He explained: “Drake has always been a great supporter of Raptors. He is our guy. He had the trophy before I brought it to Nigeria and he made a big replica for himself. His relationship with the Raptors is bigger than anything.

    “When I came in, I brought in Drake or rather say that he brought himself in. So I don’t need to take any glory for that. He has been a big fan of Raptors whether we are winning or losing, he is always there.

    “My wife has seen me getting test from Drake at 3am because a thought comes to his head and he wants to share it with me. He has been an incredible partner and we will continue to work together and have a friendship.

    “He (Drake) will continue to be a die-hard fan of the franchise. He has been in trouble a couple of times because he crossed the line but that’s passion. That’s him loving the game and we love him in Toronto,” Ujiri reitreated as he further gave a rare glimpse on how Raptors find their ways through the maze and landed on the NBA podium for only their first time in history. Excerpts

    Biggest challenges at Raptors

    When you make those moves in basketball, people get hurt and it could affect relationship. The toughest thing in our job is trading a player like we did in the case of DaMar DeRozan or when Kawhi left for Clippers after propelling us to the title. These decisions are emotional. As an administrator, you have to figure out a way to deal with these things. DaMar DeRozan is one of the unbelievable persons I have worked with. He is a remarkable person and I knew it was tough for him to leave Raptors.

    When he came back to play against us with the San Antonio Spurs, he came to me in the locker room where we hugged and that’s the only time we have had contact but time heals and there will never be any grudge. I let Coach Dwayne Casey go, a tough decision; but I had to take it. As humans, we may consider it bad. But the business side of things is that you have to withstand pressure, withstand challenges and criticisms and move on. That’s the challenge of the business.

    Bedrock of Raptors

    I must commend the two prominent players on team – Kawhi Leonard, Kyle Lowry. I am also proud of the Africans – Pascal Siakam, Serge Ibaka, OG Anunoby, who was sick during the play offs. The win gives us a platform to be able to tell a story and inspire more kids in Africa. The likes of Joel Embiid, Siakam, Giannis Antetokounmpo and many other African players in the NBA, through their exploits, will become huge inspiration to African kids who might want to follow their footsteps.

    I am also inspired by people who have taken the other routes like coaching and scouting. Great players like Patrick Mutombo, Patrick Engelbrecht, Godwin Owinjie and many others. These people will continue to be shining examples of what is obtainable outside playing basketball. It is a huge ecosystem that I think we can continue to build which will give rise to other opportunities like being sports journalists, lawyers and trainers. There are opportunities for kids in the game and that is what we want to preach with the Giant of Africa.

    My dreams for Raptors

    My dream is to make Toronto Raptors the Manchester United of basketball in Africa. We hope to win over fans of other NBA teams to our side. I also want to see people donning the red jersey of Raptors all over Africa the way they wear notable jerseys of other teams. I am happy to bring the trophy home. It was a dream watching Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and others pop champagne while lifting the NBA trophy.

    I found myself doing that with the opportunity the NBA system as well as the support of people like Amadou Fall (President of NBA Africa) has given me. I tell my wife every day that I am pinching myself to be sure what has happened is real and I can’t even picture what this win will mean to me in future. My dream is also to bring more to Africa with renewed hunger because we have seen how the win affects us positively as a people.

    As administrators, we are put in positions to make tough decisions. I always say that if you can’t stand the pressure, you have to quit your post. It is our job and I think decision of hiring Nurse and Kawhi was well thought out. We needed to change after doing the same thing all over again. Sometimes the change comes with challenges and criticism. It’s a tough job and that is why we are here as leaders.

    Back to my root with NBA trophy

    This is home for me. I went home to Zaria and spent the whole day there. I took the trophy first to my parents because they raised me the right way and also took it to my second dad, Oliver Johnson (OBJ), on the courts of Ahmadu Bello University where I learnt the rudiment of the game when I turned 13. Everyone knows how difficult it is to play the game here but we will continue to grow and learn more about the game.

    We have to be visionaries, we have to be leaders and show the youths the path. I had that path and one day some other people will take it over just like OBJ said that I took it over from him. I am proud of the many talented youths of Africa. There is so much work to be done and challenges to overcome, so that we will continue to grow. I say this with all honesty and the passion in me – Africa is now. We have to pay attention to Africa now and sports are big part of what we want to do. Africa will win and we will continue to make it better for our youths.

    Giant of Africa project

    The Giant of Africa (GOA) has its goal but question is – what’s the end goal? Truly, people think it is to build arena or put structure on the ground or how many kids are going to become professionals. At the end of the day, positive things will happen. I believe some of these kids will become bigger and do better than what we are doing now to enhance the game and the lives of others.

    My dream is to see some of the graduates of GOA do bigger programmes and give other youths opportunities down the line. I do think one day a GOA kid will become the president of one of the African countries. As we continue to spread the programme to other African countries, I am sure my dream will come true.

    Getting more facilities for basketball across Africa

    These are the things I have talked about in the past. We are trying to see if we can build more courts and more facilities to encourage more kids. I know we value football most here and we have many talented footballers on the continent. When did that start? At a point, Stephen Keshi and the late Sam Okwaraji were the only pros that came to play for the Eagles.

    All of a sudden, we had so many African talents like Drogba, Eto’o doing well in Europe. The talent in Africa is abnormal and we have to pay attention to it.This challenge to provide facilities is that of our administrators, ministers and governors. I know that there are very important issues but sports is big business.

    The talent in basketball, especially in Nigeria, is enormous. In the Eastern part, we have big, tall people who need to be encouraged and it starts with providing facilities. Some countries are beginning to do it. President Paul Kagame of Rwanda sent me test message that the arena has been completed in Kigali while another one has been built in Dakar; and that will help develop the game in these countries.

    Role of government in sports

    Government in all African countries control sports and we try to involve the private sector as much as possible. But if we are going to reach the masses of youths, we have to do things on the government side. We have to put experts in charge of sports. I know this sounds controversial but the ministers of sports all over the continent are not experts and this hinders progress.

    We have to put experts in charge of sports; people who know what to do at every given time. Let me give you an example; the National Stadium in Lagos is an eye sore. There is a lot we can do to change the landscape and build an ecosystem that would bring jobs and encourage our national athletes. I encourage the likes of Austin Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu to talk about this. Kanu and so many officials send me test messages on issues like this. We have to form a movement that will change this not only in this country but on the continent. Talents are wasting in these countries. It is important to have facilities.

    Do you know how many Serena Williams we have in Nigeria and they have never played tennis? Do you know how many Siakam who have never touched a basketball? We have so much talents, it is time to develop them. Africa is now. We need to shut the Lagos stadium for a year and refurbish it. The money for such project is available, the brains that can do the job are here. Why can we build nice hotels there and other facilities that it will create something big? Africa is now. We have to start and face the challenges so we can reap the benefits later.

    Playing career with D’Tigers

    I had a short stint with the national team. I wasn’t very good but I had the opportunity of being with the team. I wasn’t the best professional player or college player. But I was a bench player on the national team but had the honour of playing with unbelievable guys – the late Mohammed Acha, Tunji Awojobi, and Julius Nwosu and many others.

    The experience I had playing at the Men’s Afrobasket in Dakar in 1997, I would never trade it for anything and I will always cherish those moments wearing the Nigerian jersey as well as coaching the national team. My stint with the national team was short-lived but very rewarding.

    Clarion call to World Cup-bound D’Tigers

    To our players playing in the World Championship in China, it will be a unique experience playing for their country. Nick Nurse is the coach of the Canadian team. They played against Nigeria in two friendly games. I was also lucky to play for my country and was also a coach. Wearing your country’s jersey is unique and I am sure China will be exciting. I think the national team has done well over the years. We always have talents but the problem has been lack of organisation.

    I have been in touch with Musa Kida, Sam Ahmedu and Coach Alex Nwora and I think they are trying to do things the right way; that is, by making sure preparation for competition is top-notch as well as create a process that leads to success. I have been very encouraged by what I see.

    With the talent that we have, I was sure that the women would win the Afrobasket and the men will present a good team in China. I don’t know what the World Cup is. May be it is not as big as the Olympics because we see players pulling out. But it is a platform for us to show what we can offer and I am sure the Nigerian teams will continue to do well.

    Winning strategy to retain NBA title

    First of all, I am from Nigeria, I don’t feel pressure. I think it is a pleasure to come from this country. There is no day I have lost sleep on the job. We are put in these positions to solve problems. Next year, the Toronto Raptors will be there to compete to win. In terms of strategy, when you get a job to run an organisation, the first thing you think about is hiring the smarter-than-you, people who are the best in their fields – basketball operation, finance, scouting and others.

    Having the right ownership also helps, which we are blessed with at Raptors. The ownership encouraged us to build and grow. You have to start trying to put the team together in a way that is possible for the franchise to win trophies. I think you play sports to win and we made a tough decision to bring Leonard and we were fortunate to win the championship. Right now, Leonard is moving on to play with the Clippers.

    We will be fine, we are very confident with what we do. He raised us to a high level by winning the championship. We want to win again and we have wonderful and young players that we are going to grow with the team. We are excited about the future. We will continue to build and we don’t want to reveal our strategy but we have come to a point that we feel comfortable about where we are, who we are and we will continue to grow as well as win that way.

    Possibility of Toronto Raptors owning franchise in Africa

    I must say that the NBA does not allow team to own teams outside the NBA. But in terms of building strategy to make Raptors popular in Africa, we have to start with winning because if you do not win, fans would not be interested in your team. You can see fans supporting Man United, Arsenal and Liverpool because they have won in the past.

    The Basketball Africa League (BAL) is an unbelievable project that I am happy NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is spearheading. It is also great to have President Barak Obama involved in this. Amadou Fall has been made president of the League. This is a big for the continent.

    The league will grow because of the great vision behind it. It is the first time I think the NBA is running a league outside the United States. It is interesting that they have come to Africa. It shows we have potential in terms of talent and business. We are really excited about the BAL league and I am proud to be part of it.

    Peculiarity of Africa’s problem

    There was a moment when I used to come back home and start spitting fire and criticising the system. But after getting some advice from close confidants, I mellowed and checked myself. Before we all criticise, we all have to set an example. I am not here to criticise but I am trying to make the game bigger and make more people aware.

    If we talk of how to grow sports in Nigeria and other African countries, we can take a cue from President Kagame who built an arena in eight months, the same for the Senegalese president. These leaders are encouraging the game of basketball to grow. Though privatisation is good, we need the leaders to help us by setting an agenda. If we can continue to do that at the high level, we will make progress. And I will tell you that NBA games can be played in those arenas when they decide to bring the games to Africa.

    We have made more progress than the previous year. We go to South to play a game every year and everyone is asking why we are not bringing it to Nigeria. I will also like to bring the Raptors to Nigeria tomorrow but where are we going to play? That is the challenge that we face. The commissioner wants to play a game in Africa and I know it can happen in Nigeria until we make progress to have the game here.

    Marrying basketball with Nigeria music culture

    I think what Drake has done is wonderful. Basketball brings people together and as entertainment continues to grow we can infuse the two. I have talked to Davido and Jidenna and we will like to bring in Wizkid. Nigerian music is popular now and we can create an ecosystem that will give people platform to succeed by blending music and basketball. I also listen to Nigerian music and watch Nigerian movies, and I like them so much.

    Scouting of new players

    There are talents everywhere and you will be surprised to see kids with their hands reaching their knees walking around the stadium. They also have speed when they start to play. I am a more talented footballer than basketballer because I started playing as soon as I was born, just like the same way kids in America start playing basketball at an early age. My three-year-old son is already shooting the ball. Football is easy to play. With four stones and a ball, the stage is set for a game. But basketball is more difficult to set up. I went to my elementary school in Zaria and I see the court is overgrown with weeds so I have decided to do something about that.

    Getting to pinnacle of his career

    It is left for me to make my dream come through. I kept dreaming and worked hard to connect all the dots and try to be the best. Sport is all about winning; you must try to win at all times on the court and off the court. For me, it has been the best experience to be able to get to the top. I wanted to win, you want to achieve. As you do that you bring others along and that is why you have to be humble and continue to grow.We will get to the top in Nigeria soon. Africa is now.

  • Journalist defies odds, pain to complete 100-day run in Lagos

    Multi-talented journalist and runner Joe Agbro punched the air as he breezed into the expansive football pitch of Ladoje Primary School, off Oko-Oba Road, Agege-Lagos, penultimate Thursday, to mark his 100th day of road race which started on May 1, 2019.

    The writer and entertainment correspondent with The Nation newspapers had been running for 100 days, every day around Agege, Ifako, Ojokoro and Ikeja axis. He starts off early at six every morning to the sight and sound of the megacity and along the way captures the essential ingredients that mark a metropolis like Lagos.

    Timing himself with two reliable running apps, Joe, who also draws for a hobby, logs an average 7km daily and by the time he completed his 100 days run on August 8, 2019, he had logged 773km – a distance that is equal to distance from Lagos to Kaduna.

    Joe could have run on for more days gauging by his excitement and flexibility on the final day as he cruised on to do two more laps round the pitch feeling light hearted and animated. He laughed and shared bantam with his friends and colleagues waiting to celebrate this landmark with him. The runs started like a New Year resolution for Joe.

    “On the 31st of December, 2018, I told myself that I would love to stop soft drink. Before then, I used to take a lot of soft drinks. I just made the resolve and took my last soft drink on that day. Day one, day two, 30 days, 40 days and on to 100 days.

    “Thereafter, I shared my experience on Facebook and the kind of response that I got was that a lot of people are battling with things like this. They want to start something or stop something, so, I just resolved that I would do other things. So, I picked three things: abstain from alcohol for 100 days, run every day for 100 days and try to reach the 500 km mark and, thirdly, that I will draw every day.” Joe couldn’t keep up with the drawing part but kept on running even at difficult moment and time. The running also helped him to abstain from alcohol.

    “The whole idea is to text my resolve, my discipline, my dedication. It is so easy to start something but seeing it to the end is not easy. So, I decided to make my run more exciting by adding extras to it. I took pictures of things or places I covered during my runs. I always took pictures of myself and log or time my run. I varied my routes to view different sites of Lagos, then, shared them on social media.”

    That decision saved the project and inspired people.

    “When I started sharing the runs on social media, people started responding and many were saying they wanted to run like me, could I join them up? In-fact three of them actually started running. So, at first it was for me, but later it started consuming me and I felt I had to do it not just for myself but for others. In my own little way, I could use it to tell others that many things are achievable if you give it time. It may be difficult in the beginning but with perseverance and patience you will see it through.

    “There were a couple of times I could have quit. There were days I got up from the wrong side of the bed or that I slept late because most of the runs are early in the morning. However, I had to run because people were looking out for me.” Once Joe pulled a muscle but kept on running in pain inspired by kind words from a cripple (polio sufferer).

    “There was a day I was grateful about. A crippled friend popularly called T.M (Team Manager) in my neighbourhood met me as I rounded off my run that morning and said: ‘Mr Joe, I would have loved to run with you but for my leg.’ I felt bad. This is someone that wanted to run but could not because of his nature. I thought of what could stop me, maybe if I lose my leg and that made me resolve to go on.

    “Some days later, precisely on the May 28, 2019, I pulled a muscle. I was enjoying my run and coasting and powering up and tore a muscle. That didn’t stop me. I took some pain reliever and for about five days I was running in pain and massaging it. The only thing that could have stopped me is if I lost my leg.”

    For Joe, the gains are enormous. He has ridden himself of addiction to carbonated and alcoholic drinks. He said his health has improved tremendously and his insomnia cured.

    “Often time I hardly get home until 10, 10.30 pm and I’ve also been suffering insomnia. The earliest time I sleep is 12.30 AM and I wake up about 3.30 AM. However, since I started doing this run, I have been able to add an extra two hours to my sleep and I eat more. Generally, I can say my health has improved.”

    The sight of Lagos he has also seen and been able to see Lagos and people in a broader and insightful way. “One thing I always notice is the school buses and the children inside.

    I feel for school children because when I get up by 6am, I see their buses everywhere. I see some of them already on their routes; some take okada (motorcycle) or keke (tricycle) as early as that time. The buses are everywhere. The children are sleeping in the buses. It pains me so much because that is not how I grew up.

    “There is so much energy in the town. By 6am you find the cart pushers, tomatoes sellers, people fetching water at public taps, and workers struggling to get to work. Then, you have bad roads everywhere and traffic hold up starting that early. When it rains, there is so much rubbish on the road and there is a kind of jungle Lagos takes with motorist taking one way. There is disregard for joggers like me. It’s an interesting sight.”

    So what’s the next plan?

    “I would like to do something scarier, maybe run for 365 days; a whole year. I’m motivated when people scream wow! Are you crazy? Maybe run round Lagos State, run round the country or run round the world. Enjoy my life. This life is too short. Anything that keeps you afloat, just do it.”