Plateau United deserves NPFL trophy – Mutiu Adepoju

Former Nigeria international midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju  spoke with Esther Egbe about the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and other matters.

Sir, can you tell us how you  get into football?

I started playing football when we were very small.

Is it true that you have a short spell with Real Madrid?

I need to say football is in the family.

So how will you compare your days with 3SC to what it is now sir?

I mean football run in the family. In Saudi ’89 damman miracle, what was going through your mind when you are four goals down?

My father played football briefly.And my late uncle to played to certain level.It started from my primary school at cocoa research institute of Nigeria.  CRIN then.You played for 3SC during your playing days.

How can you compare the way football is played in Nigeria then and now?

I played alongside Dimeji Lawal both at primary and secondary level.At Crin then, we had a very strong young team that surprised lot of people. I played for my secondary school too, prospect high school.Not a short spell. I spent 3 years playing for Real Madrid Castilla with Dimeji Lawal. That was our first club  in Spain after Saudi 89 world cup.In Saudi ’89 damman miracle, what was going through your mind when you had four goals down.

What do you think about the NPFL Champions on this season and teams going for CAF?

I am very happy for Plateau United, because they started well and won.Coach Boboye did a great job with his team, I am proud of his work this season. His team has been on ground, so I wasn’t surprise to see them take the cup home.Mfm fc too is also amazing this season, I didn’t believe how fast and good they could get to second position on the table,because we all know how they came into the NPFL two year ago.
Plateau United ,Mfm fc will be preparing for the Caf Champions League . I believe they will be able to learn and see many things. The structure there in Spain is very different from what we have back home in Nigeria. This is part of the partnership that between the NPFL and La Liga.

You tend to be someone that played football from school and now most school don’t have playing pitch what. Really. Went wrong and do you. Think we can still get talent like your generation and what do we need to do to get it back?

My father played football briefly.And my late uncle to played to certain level.Is a bit different in the sense that we were never in this kind of situation.At four goals down I was just thinking of the people at home that believe in us. So I was thinking of how we could score some goals to reduce the margin.There was lot of commitment both on the part of the players and club owners then. No late payment. You can be sure of being your salary as at when due, so by that you can concentrate only on playing football.

Things have change a lot. We tend not to improve on what we have. And also we lack planning and organisation. We have talent in Nigeria but we need to change and reorganise our youth system.

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So you meant clubs were paying well and promptly then? So what do you think has affected the system today?

I believe not being honest affects a lot of things. You don’t promise what you don’t have.

How do you feel, being among the first set of players that qualifies Nigeria to her first ever world cup?

Clubs tell you what they can pay and they pay it promptly.It was a great feelings considering how long it has eluded Nigeria.

How was the night after the game?

We qualified in Algiers after a 1-1 draw with Algeria. It was a night l felt so satisfied and fulfilled as a footballer. We almost couldn’t sleep waiting to get back to Nigeria and see how happy people at home would be.

What do you think went wrong with Nigeria in Japan & Korea world cup in 2002?

There has being  crises prior to the world cup. And lot of changes in the team which made the coaches to take practically new players to the world cup. Moreover lack of good preparation

But sir, do you agree that the disbandment of the team is still part of the Eagles problem today?

I don’t think so. That was 15 years ago. There has being enough time to plan and have a very solid Super Eagles, if we really want to.

So what really caused the change in a league that was commanding crowds to out stands and paying players well to a league that now hold on empty stadiums and players getting owed irrationally. What do you think caused this change sir?

I think the moment we stopped enticing the fans and they have options of European leagues which they saw as attractive,  that was where the problem started.

Sir can you buttress just a bit, how did we stop enticing the fans?

Football was very interesting then and people do not complain about officiating, no home advantage, no violence at the stadium, security was tight and people go to the stadium and have fun watching their favourite players.

So what do you think can be done to bring back the excitement of the good old days in football in Nigeria?

The club’s has to change their mentality totally. They should think of how to engage the fans with spring interesting. They should start having youth programmes. Things that will make people to believe in them and at the same time give them income. Something interesting.

Is there any hope with the LaLiga partnership with the NPFL, which you happen to be the manager?

Probably in the nearest future. Last year during the Npfl allstars tour to Spain. A lot of seminars were organised for the club administrators that went with the team. I’ve not seen any club replicating all that was learnt.We designed and initiated the Npfl u-15 tournament,  I’m not sure if any of the club’s still maintained the players used since it ended in April.So it depends on the clubs. Latins will try to do everything possible to help the Lmc in what they want.

What’s the latest about Ezekiel Bassey’s Barca deal? Any hope?

He is not retained as he was on loan initially as he didn’t perform to expectation.