Four-time African Footballer of the Year, Samuel Eto’o, first regaled this writer about the joy of meeting the rich and powerful on account of winning soccer laurels.
Eto’o was that starry-eyed boy on the Real Madrid’s squad that won the 199 UEFA’s Champions League and in tow with the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Roberto Carlos, and Raul Gonzalez, amongst others, he had a career-changing moment with Spain’s King Juan Carlos.
“I was with the main team (of Real Madrid) when they presented the European Champions League they won last season to King Juan Carlos of Spain and that was my happiest moment (because it serves as a motivation to win more trophies),” Eto’o said in an interview following his record appearance at the France’98 World Cup as the youngest player of the tournament.
Sixteen years on, Dele Alampasu, Nigeria’s Under-17 2013 FIFA World Cup-winning goalkeeper, has echoed similar sentiments like that of Eto’o following a rare audience with President Goodluck twice in a space of three months as he was a guest at the hallowed Aso Rock’s seat of the Nigerian government.
“In less than three months, I have been lucky to meet with President Goodluck Jonathan on two occasions and all has to do with football,” declared Alampasu who won the Best Goalkeeper Award at the 2013 UAE Under-17 World Cup.
“I was at the Aso Rock with the Golden Eaglets after we won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in November but it was the last time I was there with the Super Eagles after we came third at the CHAN Championship in South Africa that I really had the opportunity to converse with President Jonathan.
“I was the second to the last on the queue, but before I got to the president, the MC had started shouting: ‘ Mr. President, this is the second time you are meeting this boy, Dele Alampasu.’ That really gave me the chance to talk with the president when I eventually met him for a handshake.
“What I told him? It wasn’t much, but I told him that ‘I will still come to Aso Rock many times’ because I believe this is just the beginning of my career. He replied that he would be there waiting for me.
“It would be nice to win trophies again with the national teams and that would be a good opportunity to be at the Aso Rock again,” added Alampasu who was a member of the Super Eagles Bronze-winning team at the last CHAN Championship in South Africa.
For those familiar with the Alampasu story, his is a classic rag-to-riches stuff because he was lifted from ‘ground zero. ‘He was overlooked initially by the Golden Eaglets’ selectors when he participated in the team’s screening exercise but was called up following the ineligibility of others through the Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) test after the CAN Under-17 Championship in Morocco. But on account of his stellar performance between the sticks for the record-setting four titlists Golden Eaglets, Alampasu is now rubbing shoulders with the movers and shakers of the society.
“I’m happy because football has given me so much in a short time,” he said, amidst his famed kind-hearted laughter.” Here was I shaking hands with the FIFA’s President. And other big people when we won the Under-17 World Cup in Abu Dhabi.
“I met President Jonathan too and not forgetting the handshake from Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State; these are what give me the motivation to do more and I’m ready for the task ahead,” noted Alampasu as he once again takes The Nation’s Sport & Style through recent developments in his fledging career. Excerpts….
From Golden Eaglets to home-based Super Eagles
I was lucky to get into the Super Eagles’ Bolton White Apartment Camp in the company of my Golden Eaglets’ teammate, Taiwo Awoniyi. That sort of boosted my morale and one of the first officials we met was Coach Daniel Amokachi. He told us that we had to behave like men in order to be able to make the team for the CHAN Championship since we were no longer in the Golden Eaglets. His advice and that of several others really helped us in settling down into the camp. We were welcome into the camp very well.
Between Amadi and Shorunmu
Going through the hands of the Golden Eaglets’ and Super Eagles’ goalkeepers’ coaches, Coach Emeka Amadi and Ike Shorunmu, has really helped me. With Amadi, I was taught the basics, which gave me a good background about what I met on ground at the Super Eagles. The training in the Super Eagles is tougher than that of the Golden Eaglets and it took me up to about one week before I was able to adjust. In training, I learned so much from my senior team-mates like Dan Akpeyi and Chigozie Agbim. In fact, Agbim was the number one choice because he was so hot in training but only God knew what happened to him at the CHAN Championship. Still, I learned so much from him. As one would expect, I gained so much from the goalkeepers in the Super Eagles because they have better experience and exposure than me. It was a great opportunity for me and I really paid attention to the coaches as well as the senior players. It is my desire to be in goal for the Super Eagles one day but I know it is not that easy. I’m ready to work hard for it and wait for my time. There are still many stages left for me; I hope to still play for both the Flying Eagles and the Olympic Under-23 teams. It’s a long process but with God on my side, everything is possible.
Focus on professional career
I’m not worried about the fact that several of my team-mates have secured contracts with clubs abroad. I wish them the best with their clubs and I’m hopeful that one day and very soon, I would be able to move to Belgium too. Already, arrangements are being finalised for a move to Genk and hopefully I will be able to join them soon. It is great news, hearing about the movements of several of my teammates to clubs in Europe and this is a challenge for me too, but I’m leaving everything in the hands of God. I’m expected to sign a pre-contract agreement and later I will be given a formal contract when I’m 18 years old.
Coach Stephen Keshi as a father-figure
Of course, Coach Stephen Keshi is like a father to me and, in fact, to all the players because he’s a man full of wisdom who was always advising us.
Making money
I always remember where I was coming from and that is why I have been able to use the little money I have made wisely. I helped my dad with his house and I’ve also done one or two things for myself. He’s never tired of giving us words of encouragement. He’s fond of telling us that; ‘if you carry yourself from down to the middle of your body, I’ll help you carry you to the top.’ He has the interest of everybody at heart and just imagine the opportunity he has given to me to be part of the Super Eagles to the CHAN Championship.
My CHAN experience
Going to the CHAN Championship was a great opportunity for me to learn. I was not disappointed that I did not keep in any of the matches because it was not yet my time. I’ve given myself a target of at least two years and I know this will involve a lot of handwork in order for me to play for the senior team.
My life and football
Football has given me so much joy and I don’t think my life would be complete without football. It is through football that I have been able to assist my family; it has also put food on my table, as such I can’t do without football. I still have plans for my education, but for now, I can’t do without football. I love swimming too but that is just to relax my body. What can make me cry? I would cry like a baby if anybody stops me from playing football. I didn’t come from a rich home but football has given me a lot of opportunities. I was a nobody this time last year but God has been good to me through football; and I’m so happy about it. I’m happy because my dad is now respected in his community due to my exploits with the Golden Eaglets. This has nothing to do with my power but the grace of God; I’m so, so happy about this great changes in the life of my family. I’m the only boy in the family and I have three sisters, so the challenge is for me to lift the name of the family. What could I have achieved without football? My dream now is to get a club so that I can concentrate on my career
