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Soccer News of Friday, 7 May 2021

Source: www.mynigeria.com

How sickness nearly stopped my goalkeeping career - Aiyenugba

Kwara United shot-stopper, Bamidele Aiyenugba Kwara United shot-stopper, Bamidele Aiyenugba

Kwara United shot-stopper, Bamidele Aiyenugba has revealed his dream of becoming a goalkeeper was nearly dashed because of sickness. He also stated he loved football but his mother initially objected to his decision to play because of his usual sickness after every hard training session.

“At the beginning, my mother didn’t want me to be a footballer at all,” Aiyenugba told NationSport. “I don’t blame her because back then whenever I participated in hard training session, I always fall sick for like two weeks.

“I would be placed on admission for two weeks. Imagine how a mother’s feeling would be. She doesn’t want to lose her son and she wanted me to quit. But I eventually overcome the sickness when I was getting older.

“I got used to the training and I was getting stronger. She gave up and blessed me and that was it. I just thank God for that. It was not easy but God made it possible for me.”

After securing mother’s blessing, the now  37-year- old goaltender went on to play for Kwara United and Enyimba FC of Aba, where he won four domestic league titles, one Federation Cup, one Nigerian Super Cup, two CAF Champions League, and two CAF Super Cup crown with the People’s Elephants, The Nations reports.

However, since helping Enyimba win CAF champions league back-to-back in 2003 and 2004, no club side in Nigeria has yet won the title again.

But Aiyenugba believes that Nigerian clubs’ inability to keep their players together for a long period of time is responsible for their poor outing in the continent.

“There was nothing big about Enyimba winning CAF Champions League back-to-back. The problem facing clubs in Nigeria today is that the teams don’t have players that are playing together for a very long time anymore,” Aiyenugba affirmed.

He continued: “During our own time, when we did not qualify for the CAF Champions League group stage in the first time, (Felix) Anyasi went to the drawing board and he did not sack half of the team. He kept us together and recruited some good players. We started together in the following year and that was how we got the first title and the second title because we stayed together.

“There was continuity in the team. But today there is no continuity. A coach will sign for a club now and he will sack half of the team. The new coach would bring new set of players and that is the trend in the system even now.

“Like what is happening in Kwara United now, most of us are new players but the chairman and coach having patient; we are moving up gradually. We didn’t start well but we are gradually getting the results. And that is what is lacking in our league. We don’t have continuity.

“A Nigeria team can still win champions league again if the clubs do the necessary things and taking care of players’ welfare.”

In 2007, Aiyenugba left Enyimba for Israel, where he played for teams like Bnei Yehuda, Hapoel Ashkelon, Hapoel Iksal, and Hapoel Afula during a period spanning 13 years

He spoke about his sojourn: “I played for four clubs and it was a great feelings playing in Israel. Nice place to play; great people, nice people, warm people and they love strangers. It’s a nice place for players to start.

“I have a great time in Israel. It will always be a home for me and I will always love to go back. I didn’t encounter too many difficulties. Although, there was a little bit of racism but not too much like in Europe.”

After 13 seasons in Israel with four teams, Aiyenugba returned to Nigeria Professional Football League for the 2020/21 season to play for Kwara United.

He is on the quest to win his fifth NPFL title as his wealth of experience has propelled the coach Abdullahi Biffo side to the top of the league ahead of other regular title contenders; even as the second round resume this weekend,

He said:  “We are going into the second round and we will continue from where we stopped. We will keep pushing ourselves and growing gradually like a team every day.  We can’t say that we are the champions now because we know what it at stake. “We know that other teams are good as well and no team is a pushover. We will just take every game as it comes. We will take it one by one till we get to the Promised Land.  We have the faith in ourselves and we will keep pushing ourselves till we achieve our target and bring the tittle to Kwara state for the first time. We see ourselves winning the title; at least we are very close now,” he said.

ADVERTISEMENTThe former Enyimba FC goalkeeper has been in fine form for the Ilorin-based outfit since his return to the local scene; he has played 16 matches from 19 games for the Harmony Boys, out of which he kept nine clean-sheets.

He has however advised other Nigerian players roaming  abroad to come back home and restart their career.

“My advice for guys outside there who feel like coming back to Nigeria, I know some are not playing for clubs abroad at the moment. If you still want to play in Europe you can still come back and start from here and go back to Europe.

“There is no big deal. We have some players who are playing abroad and returned to South Africa league. For example in Israel, players like Yossi Shai Benayoun, a great player who played for Arsenal, he came back to play in Israel and play for three teams.

“Let’s come back and encourage the young ones. Let’s teach them professionalism. Let help Nigerian football to grow and it will help us a lot.”