It is not unusual to see Nigerian soccer living legend, Idowu Otubusin, hit the road every morning for his daily dose of work-out that terminates at the Lekan Salami Stadium, where he trains the feeder team of Ibadan club side, 3SC Sports Club, famously known as IICC Shooting Stars in the days of old.
He would also be on his feet for as long as the session lasts, sometimes for three or more hours, wearing the younger boys down before calling it a day. It would, however, interest many to know that Otubusin, better known in the 70s and 80s when he ruled the Nigeria airwaves (much thanks to the late football commentator, Ernest Okonkwo) as ‘Slow poison’ is well over 60 years of age.
Speaking with Otubusin at the Lekan Salami Stadium, IICC slaughter house, the same arena where ‘Slow Poison’ charmed soccer fans with his strong calculative defensive style, supported by IICC skipper, the late Sam Ojebode, he said he has not given hope of making name in coaching like he had done as a player.
He insisted that he did not feel like a man in advanced age like his birth certificate reads. “l don’t feel 60 plus at all. I can still stay on my feet doing what l do best, kicking the round leather for hours every day. My boys will tell you that l don’t tire easily.”
He explained further that he derives pleasure in inculcating his ideas on the younger ones. “When we were playing football, we were focused. Discipline was important to us and that is one of the reasons why l am still waxing stronger. I gave myself to football and nothing else, and it has become my life. Football is more than a passion to me,” Otubunsi added.
Otubunsi nostalgically looks back at the camaraderie that existed among his teammates both at club level and national team. “We are like brothers-in-arm. Our skipper, Sam Ojebode, Segun Odegbami, was with us. Niyi Akande, Sam Ashante, Philip Boamah, Nathaniel Adewole, Sam Saka, Zion Ogunfeyimi, Yomi Bamiro, Kafaru Alabi, Moses Otolorin, and Mudashiru Lawal were also part of the team then. Though we were not of the same age we all trained and played like one.
“Even in the Green Eagles, we operated like one body. Chairman Christian Chukwu and other players from Rangers would come and we would become one but when we got back to our respective clubs, the rivalry could start.”
Among the coaches he worked with as a player, he noted that the late Joseph Ladipo (aka Jossy Lad) made life-changing impact in his career. “When we lost Jossy Lad, l would say if felt the impact most because l have very fond memories of him. He was like a father to every member of the squad then, he was there for us every time. He understood us better than our parents. He was a true legend who loved to see people around him progress; success was always his watch word. He was not the type that underrated any human no matter your status; he appreciated what you can offer.”
Though Otubusin has made his home in Ibadan, where he played for the IICC since 1974 until he hung his boots, soccer life did not start for him in the ancient city. He revealed that he was born and bred in Lagos and his career took off from there before a staunch supporter of the IICC lured him to Ibadan.
“l was not born in Ibadan, neither did my career start here like many would have believed. I came to Ibadan because of IICC but it is my home now and many of us have settled down here because of the love we found here. Soccer fans here know how to celebrate us, they show love to us and that is why many old players have built their homes here. It is a pleasant place to live. I grew up in Ebute Meta in the urban part of Lagos. At that time, football was encouraged, even though you parents would always warn you to take your studies more serious. But footballers were celebrated. At a point, my parents moved to Shomolu area and it was there that l joined Olaleye Football Club; a youth club that helped me a lot. Later, l moved to Muri International FC and we would go to all parts of Lagos to play other clubs. We used to train at Igbobi Orthopedic Hospital football pitch and when we were playing, even big coaches would come to see us and that was where I was spotted by the coach of Niger Pool, a bigger club by all reckoning that time.”
Continuing, the Green Eagles defender informed that Niger Pool FC exposed him to big matches and scouts. “I was enjoying my game at Niger Pool and getting some money to maintain myself too. After each match, coaches would call me and tell me about bigger clubs l could play for, but l was still young and did not immediately see football as a big money venture. But there was pressure from the two biggest clubs in Lagos then; Stationery Stores and ACB, and it was while l was contemplating joining one that l was approached by a strong IICC supporter, one Mr. Adeosun, who said he would like me to play for the IICC. Even in Lagos the IICC was known to be organised and well-financed. One day, he just took me to Chief Lekan Salami and gave me an offer l could not refuse and that was how l decided to move to Ibadan to join up with them. This was in 1974. ”
So impressed was ‘Slow Poison’ at IICC that he never left. “When l got to Ibadan, l met other players from Lagos and we all became friends. We were treated like kings. IICC made provision for everything we needed. We had free accommodation; facility in the place was second to none. And all our needs were provided for. There were no sign-on fees at the time and our salary was determined by the civil service salary scale structure; but the money was good, so nobody was complaining. Match bonus was paid promptly and it was reviewed regularly. We would move to camp three days before a league match and spend weeks outside the country during preparation for CAF competitions, especially during the Winners Cup that we won in 1976. The club pays one of the highest incomes by clubs as at that time and I never lacked. In those days, players in the team were friends. We moved together, visited one another, shared love and even pains. Nobody thought of leaving the club. On the pitch, we played for ourselves. I played in the defence but when I moved forward, a striker could move back to cover for me. We were like a big family, unlike today when players fight themselves in clubs. Our captain was Sam Ojebode and he was such a wonderful leader.”
At IICC, players dined with the high and mighty and it was not unusual for them to get gifts from rich supporters of the club. “We were not jealous of each other. I remember when l bought my Peugeot 504 in 1976, everybody was happy for me and it was not long that others bought theirs. We were all doing well with no thought of travelling abroad to play football. At least, we could afford what we needed. When someone did something great, the rest of the team would emulate him. Going abroad was the last thing on our minds because we were enjoying the best of everything at home.”
Footballers are known to have women flock around them because of their fame, but Otubunsi said they were disciplined. “We did not indulge in frivolous things. Women would come and we do have girlfriends but football was the first thing on our minds. Maybe that is why l am still fit today. We trained, played and slept to get back our full strength. Football was all we knew.”
Otubusin also cleared the air on his nickname, ‘Slow Poison’, which many soccer fans and writers felt was given him by the late soccer commentator, Okonkwo. “Contrary to what people think, the nick-name – slow poison – was not given to me at Green Eagles by Ernest Okonkwo but by teammates at Shomolu, when l was playing on the streets of Lagos. I was a striker then, my teammates and coach said I played slowly but once I reached the opponents area, I delivered a lethal strike. So they started calling me ‘Slow Poison’ and whenever we were playing they would call me by that name and fans would pick it up. And that was the same reason l was converted to a defender by Coach Anthony Obi of the Lagos State Sports Council at Niger Pool. He said my height and calmness on the ball were features he would like his defenders to possess. By the time l got to the IICC and the national team, the name had stuck on me.”
In appreciation of his immediate environment and the people of Ibadan, the Ogun State indigene said he has set up a football academy aimed at nurturing future stars. “ I have set up a football academy by the name Unique Football Academy and l hope that l will be able to give back to this society that has become my home since 1974 when l relocated form Lagos,” Otubusin added.
