How did you start your football career?
My name is Samuel Elijah, an ex-international, Flying Eagles under 23 and former ex-Super Eagles player. I started my football career right from primary school. This is a God-given talent which I started right at a very tender age to nurture. Right from primary two, I started playing for my primary school in Bauchi. I finished my primary school then and I moved to Kaduna State. Right from my Form One, I started playing for my secondary school, Memunat Goroso Secondary school. Then in 1985, when I was in Form Two, Form Three, I was playing for some companies like Kaduna Textile Limited (KTL) and Lead Way Insurance In 1985, I switched my school to Sardauna Memorial College (SMC). Then we played All States Secondary Schools’ Game and we won. After that we played All Nigerian Secondary School Game in 85 and we won the competition, we had to represent the country in Finland, Europe. I was still in secondary school when we went to Finland and we won the Cup, beating Turkey 5-0 in the final in 1985. So we came back with the Cup to Nigeria. Then the Governor, Muazu gave us scholarship, bicycles, coloured TVs. We were just secondary school boys then. When we came back from Finland, Kwara 85 festival was on then. They heard that some secondary school boys just came back from Finland and they won. Officials of Utility Bombers, came to Kaduna and picked about four or eight of us, they brought us to Ilorin during Kwara 85. Eventually two of us that came from Finland were picked. In 1986, I signed for Utility Bombers. It was an amateur side. That was where I started playing the big game.
In the course of pursuing your football career, did you get the support of your parents?
I didn’t at all because my father was very hard on me, very tough on me, he wanted me to become a medical doctor. He wanted me to go to school. Eventually I finished my primary school, secondary school but actually he never wanted me to play. He thought football was just for the riff-raff. He wanted me to become a doctor or whatever. But something kept on pushing me that I just had to continue, but my father never supported me. I received a lot of strokes in the morning. Early in the morning, he would wake me up with beating which became a normal life for me because I know every morning he would beat me and after that I would still go back to the field.
So, looking back now, would you say you made the right decision to play?
Yes, I made the right decision. In fairness to my dad, he really wanted the best for me, I can’t blame him. It got to a stage that my father didn’t know what to do again. He kept me in a remand to discourage me. Eventually when I came out of the remand home, I continued with playing. Before he died, he called me to apologize for everything that happened because when he started hearing the news on radio, TV, people coming to congratulate him, saying I was making success and so on, he became a proud man. I thank God I made the right decision.
There was one tournament you were noted for, you, Jimoh Balogun and the likes, the Saudi 89 Damman miracle. What was the experience like?
The experience is something you can’t forget. It is an experience that would continue to linger forever because some people would see me outside and they would begin to tell me exactly what happened in 89, Ernest Okonkwo was the commentator; they would be telling me what he was saying about me, double prophet, the man with the prophetic name, how I scored the goal, how I played, some people would be talking as if they just watched the match today. It is an experience that you cannot even explain sometimes, something you can never forget, coming down from 4-0 to 4-4 which has never happened in World Cup history. It is still in the Guinness Book of Record.
How would you compare the games now and then?
The difference is very clear. Somebody saw me yesterday, he was saying, “Look at that man, you don’t know him, he is Sam Elijah, he has played for this country. This guy should be swimming in millions assuming he is playing now”. But I tell you that is not the ultimate. The ultimate was that during our days there was this passion for the game, especially when you are playing for your fatherland. There is pride, the name we have made is a pride, it is a great honour playing for this country, playing this far. We also made some money, although it can’t be compared with what footballers are earning now. The difference is passion. If you look at the game now, there is no commitment,every player wants to play in Europe. Even if you interview any of the smallest players now, he would be talking of playing in Europe. They are just after the money. The commitment is not there. That is the difference between now and then.
Looking back now, do you have any regrets?
I don’t have any regret because I thank God for the name God has given me, to make impact. We are talking of history that God has made it possible for me to make in football. It has never happened in the history of World Cup coming back from 4-0 down I am still part of that history because I scored the third goal and the last penalty that gave us the victory. The only thing is that I didn’t play much, I didn’t play longer for Super Eagles. You know I played a couple of matches under Clemence Westerhof, I would have played longer if not for the injury I had. That is the only regret I have, that my injury stopped me.
Would you say you have been compensated enough for what you have done?
We are still hoping that one of these days we would be remembered.
Now that you have taken to coaching, how is the experience like?
Before now I didn’t have it at the back of my mind that I was going to become a coach when I was playing. But when I came back from Beirut in 2001, I had a problem with my knee. I did some operations then I had to change my mind and thought I could give what I have to the younger ones. So I went for a coaching course in 2004. When I came back, I started with Kwara State All Stars, in 2005, I joined Crown FC Ogbomoso, I coached them in 2005 and 2006. After 2006, I went to Lagos and coached the Nigeria Port Authority (NPA) in 2007. That was when I met Westerhof in Ilorin here. When I finished my contract, I came back to Ilorin. When Westerhof asked if I could work with him in the Academy here. It is a different experience but I am enjoying it since I am making an impact, impacting on the youths.
2013 can be seen as a very good year for Nigeria. We won the AFCON, qualified for CHAN and Under 17 won the World Cup. In your own opinion, can 2014 be better?
It can be better because it seems we are on to the right path, trying to give the indigenous coach a chance like Stephen Keshi, giving him the free hand to work, giving him confidence, giving the home-based a chance, giving a lot of young boys a chance to prove themselves. If you look at the Eaglets that went to rule the world, most of the boys are from academies, going back to the grassroots for real talents. I think our football is on the right track. 2014 can be better.
What is your opinion on the world cup draws, some people says it is favourable for Nigeria?
There is nothing like minors any more. In those days when we played with Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Niger and so on, you know we beat them silly, 6-0, 7-0. But football has changed. Even if we are drawn against Brazil or Spain, I will still say the same thing, it is just the level of our commitment, discipline, from the coaching crew to the player and even the NFF. We need to prepare very well for the World Cup.
What is your take on the invitation of the three Golden Eaglets to the Super Eagles’ CHAN team?
It is not bad. That is a good start. The boys really showcased themselves and it is not bad bringing such boys to this kind of competition. That would give them more confidence.
If they perform impressively at the tournament, can Keshi take one or two of them to the World Cup?
It is not bad. You know we are talking of Nigeria, not a group of people or set of religious group of people or tribe. This is football and in football, anything can happen. Pele was just 17 when he showcased himself at the World Cup. So there could be surprises Football is all about surprises, one or two of them could be lucky.
How would you describe the relegation of two Kwara teams at the just concluded Nigeria Professional Football League?
It is very unfortunate. I think it serves as a lesson to the two teams- Kwara United and ABS. But it serves as a lesson to them that they must come together. If you look at their matches, in the home of Kwara United they played draw, in the home of ABS, they played draw, making them to lose two, two points. I think this development would help us to be more serious, to be more united, so that we can move Kwara State to greater heights in sports ,especially football.
A lot of people are saying that during the Westerhof years, Kwara Football Academy was very strong and effective. Do you share this view?
Not really. The glamour may not be as before but we are still having some good lads, talented boys and coaches, ex-international with high experience as coaches. What I just think is we need a little of bit re-packaging, rebranding. By the time we get that I can tell you, we would fly again.
What is your word to upcoming footballers, coaches?
Hard-work, dedication, passion. Let’s be zealous so that we can move our football forward. When we start from the state level, to the national level, sky is the limit. That is why we are going back to the grassroots now. The Academy and coaches in Academy too have to work hard because that is where the work is now. You have to teach these boys the basic thing and coaches in clubsides too have to work hard and improve discipline.
