Kadiri Ikhana, erstwhile Africa’s Best Coach, has spoken in glowing terms and the joy in being a father-in-law to two former Super Eagles’ stars, Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Patrick Ovie.
A former Nigerian international and a proud member of the country’s 1980 Africa Cup of Nations-winning squad, Ikhana said he had no hand in choosing life-long partners for his adorable daughters.
In 2008, Aiyegbeni, fondly called Yakubull by footballer lovers, pulled all the stops as he dragged Yvonne Lameen, the beautiful daughter of the former Enyimba’s Champions League-winning coach to the altar at an elaborate ceremony held in Abeokuta and Lagos. The marriage between Yakubull and Lameen was preceded with that of Ovie and Ikhana’s eldest daughter, thus making the highly-revered gaffer an in-law to two Nigerian soccer stars.
“It was not my design that my daughters married footballers because I’m a coach,” Ikhana, a National Honour recipient after helping the then Green Eagles win the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations, exclusively told The Nation Sport & Style.”Of course, I’m proud that my daughters found love with footballers because it shows that they had interest in my profession.
“I don’t even know how they met because both Patrick and Yakubu did not play under me when they were still on the local scene and I think it’s just the plan of God that they both met my daughters along the line.
“I cannot explain it; I believe having my two daughters married to footballers shows that they appreciate my profession. As such, I’m happy about it.”
Regarded as a disciplinarian, Ikhana said he had no choice than to accept what fate had in store for his daughters ‘since I want their happiness.’
The man, who helped Nigeria break the age-long jinx of not winning the continental foremost club competition by guiding Enyimba to win a successive African Champions League trophy in 2005 and 2006, said he is very proud of his son in-laws, adding that parents should never determine who and who their children should marry.
Said he: “You cannot dictate who your daughter should marry. It has to be somebody she likes. You have to allow them to do what they desire and pray to God that they would find fulfilment in the marriage.
“Of course, everybody knows me to be a very strict man but I think your social life is different from the professional life. That’s my own social life. My son in-laws see me as their father-in law and not as a coach. They have never one day called me coach, rather they call me Daddy.
“When I’m outside coaching, I’m a different person. It’s true I’m strict when it comes to my job but I’m a very sociable person,” noted Ikhana as speaks candidly about his remarkable coaching career.
About two seasons ago, you announced your retirement from football coaching. But it appears you have changed your decision to retire. First, you were on rescue mission with Nasarawa United and you were recently linked to Kano Pillars; would it be right to say you are fully back into coaching?
Let us look at it this way. After finishing with Kwara United, I announced my discontinuing with coaching. But at the same time, I did not come out fully that I’m through with football coaching. Because of my clout and pedigree, and pressure from those who love me and those who love football in the country, I went to coach the Super Falcons. There were pressures from here and there and at the end, Nasarawa United called me out because of my friends there, especially their chairman. When people are asking me to come and contribute to the development of the game, of course, I should oblige them if that is what I can do for the country to develop the game.
Is it right to say you are back fully into coaching?
Yes. Actually, I am supposed to join Kano Pillars, to take them through the CAF Champions League and the league.
You’ve been away from the league for close to two seasons. What did you observe while you were away?
It is true I was away from the league but I was closely monitoring the development. You can imagine Nasarawa United were at the bottom of the table and I pulled them out to safety. This means I was conversant with what was going on in the league. But I don’t think absence from the league actually erode my knowledge of the Nigerian league. I attended several seminars and workshops to keep myself updated. So, I think I’m still conversant with the Nigerian league.
On the issue of clubs not paying players and coaches, especially with the LMC trying to ensure that the clubs pay the minimum standard wage of N100, 000; what is your opinion?
I have been at the forefront of the agitation for a long time. We have some clubs that don’t pay up to $2000 in a month. Yet, in Niger Republic, clubs pay far more than that. So, I don’t see why even the smallest clubs in the country can’t pay N100, 000 to their players.
Judging from how much government is pumping into football in the country, I think the clubs are capable of paying this amount. And it will serve as incentives for other players growing up. With money, you can have a better club.
Do you think the clubs would be able to recoup their investments, considering that fans no longer come to the stadium?
I have said it times without number that clubs should look for sponsors. I think a club like Kano Pillars has sponsors. What I see in the whole thing is that because government is sponsoring clubs, the clubs now rely on the government to bring out every kobo to run the programme of the teams. It’s not so. Government will not be spending as much as they are doing now if the teams have sponsors. There is no state without big companies that can be lured into sponsorship of the teams. The people own the teams and the people own the companies as well. The companies are willing to partner the government and it’s only left for the managers to present an attractive package to convince the companies why they should partner the clubs.
Two of your daughters are married to footballers. Was this by your design?
Well, I think it’s by the design of God, because the two players never played under me. And I don’t even know how they met. I cannot explain it.
So, how do you feel as a father, yourself being an ex-international? How is it being a father-in-law to Nigerian internationals?
I’m proud to be father-in-laws to two ex-internationals because my daughters married from my profession. I believe when you have one or two of your children married to footballers, it shows that they appreciate my discipline. So, I’m happy about it.
So, would you encourage your other colleagues to allow this kind of union?
It depends. You cannot dictate who your daughter should marry. It has to be somebody she likes. You have to allow them to do what they desire and pray to God that they would find fulfilment in the marriage.
Everybody knows Coach Kadiri Ikhana to be a very strict man. And having two of your daughters marry footballers, how are your in-laws (the footballers) seeing you, as a coach or as a father-in law?
I think your social life is different from the professional life. That’s my own social life. My sons in- law see me as a father-in law and not as a coach. They have never one day called me a coach. They call me daddy. When I’m outside coaching, I’m a different person. It’s true I’m strict when it comes to my job but I’m a very sociable person.
What has been your proudest moment?
My proudest moment was when Nigeria lifted the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time. My other proud moment was when I won the CAF Champions League with Enyimba for the first time after several years of failing.
How was the feeling like?
Everybody was proud of it, even you, my friend. As a player, I was on top of the world being a member of the winning Green Eagles of the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations. And as a coach, winning the CAF Champions League was something out of the world, considering it had eluded Nigeria for so long. Even my family was lost in the celebration. I think it was a great moment for me.
Certainly, you must have some low moments; can you share them with us?
The saddest moment of my life was when I lost a penalty kick in a World Cup qualifier against Tunisia. I still remember this incident vividly. Anytime I’m on the field of play and my team wants to play a penalty kick, I still reflect back and I pray it doesn’t happen again.
Keshi has won the Nations Cup but he has other assignments lined up this year, like the CHAN in South Africa and the World Cup in Brazil. What advise will you offer him?
He has been taking the right steps, taking them one after the other, and they are the correct ones. The only advice is for him to look at his progress and continue with the process he has been using in achieving the progress.
Apart from that, one shouldn’t dabble into what Keshi is doing so much except to encourage and pray for him.
You were a coach of the Super Falcons and it was a strange move for you. How did you find the challenge?
It was interesting. After working with the boys for most part of my coaching life, coming to work with the ladies was quite an experience for me. I think the ladies are way far behind but at the same time, it’s interesting because I was able to see a woman doing what some men can’t do. And I think Nigeria can go far if only we arrange ourselves towards positioning women’s football.
Was the challenge tasking?
Yeah. It was tasking, very, very tasking. What made it so tasking was everybody believes Ikhana can do it? They were sure I was going to do well. And at the end, I found out there were so many ugly scenes. Just like you want to play a match in two, three days time and you’ve prepared the team and only to find out that three or four, five of the girls are menstruating. You have to drop them and start rearranging the team. That is something that is not common with the men. But at the same time, the people you are working with are also sabotaging you. In Equatorial Guinea, what happened to us was a big shame, because you need the officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to explain how our running from one city to the other, our training, was. Everything wasn’t arranged at all. We were so pressurised to win. The NFF gave us a semi final ticket but I promised the country the trophy and I didn’t wait to be booted out after I failed to achieve my target. That was what happened.
