Watching Dosu Joseph, former goalkeeper of the world-conquering Nigerian Olympic team to Atlanta ’96, direct affairs of aspiring football stars at the practising pitch of the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base in Oshodi, gives one that awesome feeling that the ex-international has successfully conquered his fear. Though he would not be able to kick the ball meaningfully again following a career-ending auto accident barely one year after the Atlanta feat, he stands like a Trojan, aided by just one hand short prop, and gives direction to footballers well capable of using two limbs. As soon as this reporter had the opportunity, that was my first query to the six-footer now slightly bent over due to the time spent in the wheelchair.
He said: “When I had the accident and the news was broken to me that l may not be able to kick football gain in life, l felt shattered because football was my life and the only thing that l knew. But that is life for you, sometimes it takes away the things you think you need most but my wife and friends were there for me. If l can’t play football, why should l still be around football? But my friends like Taribo West, Sunday Oliseh and Emmanuel Amunike, to mention but a few, rallied round me and keep telling me you are too passionate about football to walk away from it.
“So what I did was to consider myself going into an early retirement and at that point it was easy to focus. I started looking at what footballers do in retirement and simply do them. I manage a football youth team, talk football on television and manage aspiring football stars and I am doing great.”
Joseph also acknowledged a powerful force behind his remarkable recovery and desire to move on when others in similar condition could have fallen flat. “It has not been easy,” he said, “but I give glory to God. The interesting thing is that after my accident and when I decided to pursue other things it was like God just turned my touch to gold. The most important thing is that, I am still alive and anything I touch turns to gold. It is God’s doing. God inspires my actions and because of accident I have come to rely more on Him and He has not failed to direct my steps in the right paths. I was able to mould myself again by not seeing myself as a liability to my family, Nigerians and friends. I quickly stood up and accepted the will of God.”
The former Julius Berger said he would like to give more of himself to God. “I consider what I am doing right now to giving back to the society because we try to recruit young players from the nooks and crannies of the country, nurture them and help them book easy passage abroad to attain their dreams. But God is the ultimate for me and I want to give something back as a way of saying thank you. I want to work in his vineyard. But I am a work in progress and wherever He directs me I am willing to go because He’s my motivation. God has been great to me and my family. I faced death but survived miraculously. I suffered, but God showed me how to make the best use of the lessons in it.”
Dosu Joseph speaks more on growing up, family, Olympic gold and other sundry issues. Excerpts:
Growing up
It is not an easy thing when you are from a polygamous family. However, our parents instilled discipline in us to become better citizens. My elder brother aroused my interest and paved the way for my football career. David was in goal for YSFON and Flying Eagles. Another of my brother, Abass, also played football but left the game in pursuit of his education, while my younger brother, John, played for the Shooting Stars, Nassarawa United and Akwa United. I can say football runs in the family. David was already in active football in Kano and later laced his boots abroad. So, it was easy with him around for me to aspire though my parents were not happy with it.
At the time, no parent wanted their child to go into sports. All they wanted was education and white collar job thereafter. We had to sneak out to play. So, it wasn’t a piece of cake convincing them. My mum was against me taking to sport of any kind, she was only particular about my education. But my brothers would always intervene and defend me, though my father was passive. He would always leave you to choose for yourself want you want to do in life but will advise us to listen to our mum. But after they started reading my name in the newspapers, they gave up.
Olympic gold
The memory would remain with me forever. It was the first time ever the black nation would attain that feat. I was elated beyond words and I would relish the moment for the rest of my life. I was proud of myself being a Nigerian and I felt good for myself and for the entire black nation. We went, we saw, and we conquered the world.
Football academy
Running an academy is not an easy task and I have people helping me to make things work. They are reliable people and we have been together for years. The name of the academy is Westerlo, because it is affiliated to Westerlo FC of Belgium. It is a team formed to give opportunity to young boys who are willing to earn a living through football. The club officials come regularly to assess the players in Nigeria, with a view to giving them a chance to play in Europe. Westerlo of Belgium came to my aid when I needed it most and I’m grateful to them for the trust in me. We maintain a squad of 20 players all the time and they don’t pay any fee. Many of the players from the club are now playing in Europe, earning income to help their families. We scout for players all over Nigeria by organising competitions to create a medium for showcasing of skills and talents, and when we find players that are good enough, we accommodate them and train them to be world beaters. Some of our graduates are Raheed Alabi who plays in Greece, Dele Adeleye of Ergotelis FC, Moses Adams (KVC Westerlo), Jamiu Alimi of Olympiakos Nicosia and Chelsea feeder player, Emmanuel Sarki.
Joe Erico
I played mostly in Lagos where l cut my soccer tooth. I started from a street team called Olumo Bombers and from there I joined Nigerlux. It was there that I met coach Joe Erico and he taught me many things about goalkeeping. Erico took me along to Highlanders of Jos and from there I was lured back to Julius Berger by the club’s chairman after which I travelled to Italy with the help of Churchill Oliseh, the elder brother of former Eagles captain, Sunday Oliseh. He made it possible for my trials in Italy. It was not easy initially as I didn’t know anybody and they don’t speak English and even the few that understand pretend not to when you speak to them. But at the end of it all I was able to seal a four-year with Reggiana and it was from there that I established myself as the U-23 team number one choice.
