Former Super Eagles goalkeeper and trainer, Alloy Agu, speaks on his career, early retirement from football and how he revived Vincent Enyeama’s career in the Eagles, in this interview with JOHNNY EDWARD
How did you start football?
It started with me watching my late uncle, who was a great goalkeeper. As I watched him play back then, I developed an interest in football.
And during my formative years in primary school, I was part of the football team as an outfield player, but the goalkeeper could not make it for a particular game and I had to deputise. During the game, a shot was taken towards my direction but it was deflected to another path but I was able to react quickly to save the goal-bound ball. It was at that point that my coach said I was not going to play football again but man the goalposts. Professionally, I started off in the Nigerian league, where I made my name playing for IITA, NEPA FC, ACB and BCC Lions of Gboko before I moved to MVV Maastricht in Holland. I later joined
RFC Liege in Belgium and went on to play for Kayserispor (Turkey) and teams in Canada and the United States of America before I finally retired from football. I was the first Nigerian to play in the Dutch Eredivisie back then in 1990.
What was it like playing in the Nigerian league then compared to this era?
The Nigerian league was very competitive back then. It was a glorious moment playing in the NPFL. At that time we had about four Lagos teams in the league and it was tough. The rivalry was so intense that the league at that time formed the bedrock of the national team for the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations in Algeria. Only three overseas-based players joined the team for the tournament. They were the late Rashidi Yekini, Ademola Adeshina and Andrew Uwe and we reached the final of the tournament only to lose to Jean-Fidele Diramba from Gabon. He was the referee who officiated the final of the AFCON tournament in 1990, which saw Algeria beat Nigeria by a lone goal. He robbed us of the title with his bad officiating. It was that set of home-based players that changed the name of the team from Green Eagles to Super Eagles because nobody gave us a chance.
Do you think the current NPFL can produce players of your calibre?
It depends, but it has to do with a lot of work and commitment from all ends from the players to club officials, fans and the government. Back then, every fan knew the players each Nigerian team had in their ranks, but it’s not so with this era. The fans trooped into the stadium to watch games because they were getting value for their money. The league attracted foreigners because it was very competitive, but sadly it’s the other way now. Every young player is desperate to leave the shores of the country for Europe but we must change that mentality. If we can go back to the way we organised our league then, make players comfortable, it will make our league better again. For instance, look at the North Africans, most of their national team players are from their local leagues and this has helped them thrive. But in our country, every Nigerian wants to leave the shores for greener pastures, which nobody can blame them for because it is their careers and their future. I left the Nigerian league for Holland in 1990 and I only took part in one seven-a-side training session with MVV Maastricht before I signed a contract. The Nigerian league had prepared me already. I left the league to sign because I was ready to play at that level. We need to look inwards to revive our leagues because the results we have been recording lately is because of the state of our league.
So, you think the poor state of our league has weakened our national team?
In a way it has, I must admit.
What were your challenges in terms of language, weather and food while trying to settle down abroad as a professional footballer?
My first challenge came from the language because as a goalkeeper, you must be able to communicate freely. I had to attend Dutch classes to learn the language. The same thing happened when I went to Belgium and Turkey. Communication is vital if a goalkeeper must excel abroad.
What kind of competition and rivalry existed between you and the likes of Peter Rufai, the late Wilfred Agbonavbare, Willy Okpara and Ike Shorunmu back then?
The rivalry was awesome and healthy, which brought the best out of us as goalkeepers. It also made us give our best to the national team. I led the team to the AFCON tournament in 1990 and after our feat, reaching the final, the likes of Rufai and Willy Okpara returned to the team, which made the team competitive again. We supported ourselves during games and those on the bench were ready to play whenever called upon. I can recall a moment at the Gateway Hotel where we used to camp back then, Ike Shorunmu asked me, ‘Skippo, when are you going to retire so we the young ones can take over? I’m getting tired of waiting to play.’ And I told him in 1993, that his time will come and that he would man the posts for a long while and retire without being forced out. It was that experience that made me make the goalkeeping position very competitive when I became the goalkeepers trainer. When I was appointed, I told the federation that I knew the problems of that department and would fix it. The likes of Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Dele Aiyenugba and Bassey Akpan all kept for me while I was goalkeepers trainer. I revived Enyeama’s career. They had made him the third-choice goalkeeper at that time. I stood my grounds when we played some friendly games against Iceland in London and France in Paris. Enyeama was in goal against Iceland and the game ended 1-1. In the next game, the coach told me to drop him for another keeper, but I refused and guess what, the Eagles defeated France in Paris and Enyeama was named the man-of-the-match. That was how the rebirth of Enyeama started. He became the toast of the country again and in France. When he was almost done with the national team and was not able to continue, I brought in another superb keeper Carl Ikeme, who Nigeria never knew about. He was fantastic for Nigeria until he was diagnosed with Leukaemia.
Rufai took your place weeks before the USA ‘94 World Cup. How did you feel about this?
Well, I think everyone has a role to play and at that point in time, I told myself, ‘he is Nigerian too.’ And there was a time he was on the bench watching while I was Nigeria’s No.1. I had to support Rufai when the coach picked him ahead of me. I had no hard feelings because we are one happy family and Nigeria is bigger than anyone.
Were you superstitious while playing?
I’m a prayerful person. I believe I won’t perform well if I don’t pray very well. God has given us the ability and it is up to us to carry it out. Others can undergo other superstitious activities before matches, but I don’t have any routine other than to pray to God before a game because God is the giver of talents and every ability belongs to Him.
How did you feel each time you conceded goals?
Nobody feels good conceding goals, but most times I look at two areas before absolving myself. Firstly where the error came from and secondly if I could have done better to save the ball. Basically, when a goal is scored you cannot change it, so, what you do in essence is to motivate your teammates that they can outscore their opponents and win the game.
What led to your decision to quit active football in your early 30s?
Upon my return from Canada in 1999, I told the Lord I would love to play professionally for two years after I left Kayserispor. I made a covenant with God to quit after then. I went to the US and was about to sign for Columbus Crew for the third year. I was playing against a particular Nigerian player, who in the process of trying to score a goal, stepped on my knees and got me injured. An operation was scheduled for the following week, but I put a call to Nigeria and my brother reminded me about the covenant I made with God to quit after two years. It got me thinking and immediately I made up my mind to quit, and my leg got healed without an operation. That was how I hung my boot.
What would you have become if you were not a footballer?
I would have become a pastor if I hadn’t gone into football. I have always loved football right from a young age, following in the steps of my uncle, who was also a goalkeeper, like I stated earlier. Today, I thank God I’m a goalkeeper’s coach and also share the word of God.
How would you rate the current goalkeepers in the Eagles?
It will be unfair to do that because all of them have different qualities. For instance, there were times when these young goalkeepers stood out. When mistakes happen you don’t say the goalkeeper is bad. We are all humans and bound to make mistakes.
Is any of your sons into goalkeeping?
No, my son is a striker. It’s a pity he couldn’t carry on the family legacy.
