Nigeria is truly blessed with some of the best brains in world football. One of them is certainly, the former IICC Shooting Stars, Leventis United, International Breweries, Ilesha, Bendel Insurance, Iwuanyanwu Nationale and Stationery Stores winger, Siji Lagunju. This graduate of University of Ife, who holds the only CAF Pro License in Nigeria, was a member of the technical department of the NFF from 2010 till his retirement late late year. Fondly called the ‘Best’, due to his vast knowledge and experience in the game. Lagunju, in this interview, pointed the ways forward for Nigeria football, even as he believes he has the experience and technical capabilities to help reposition football in Nigeria.
Excerpts of the interview.
What do you think are the major problems with coaching football teams in Nigeria?
Firstly, I would say our training and playing pitches are very bad. And would not allow skillful players exhibit their true potentials. Much more, a team cannot move or retain the ball conveniently, like they would on a good pitch.
As a highly experienced coach, what’s different or unique about your styles or football ideology?
I recognise that I am a very experienced and knowledgeable coach. However, I thank God for making me come in contact with some of the best coaches in Nigeria and Africa. I learned and worked closely with the likes of late Coach Kashimawo Laloko, late Amodu Shuaibu, as well as James Peters and High Chief Adeboye Onigbinde.
Like late Amodu Shuaibu who was extremely intelligent, Chief Onigbinde has over 100 slides of his football notes. He taught us how to write technical reports of matches. He always emphasise on taking care of little, but equally important details in the game. I learned and my ideology is never to lose a game. I believe, if you have to beat a team by as much as 40-0, please do it.
In recent times, Nigeria football seems to be going down. What’s the problem?
Nigeria football is no longer as good as it used to be. In the technical department of the NFF, when Coach Eguavoen came in as head, myself, Paul Aigbogun, Rafiu Yusuf and Garba Lawal, sat down to chart a way forward for Nigerian football. We came up with a philosophy called ITS; Intelligence, Techniques, Strengths and Skills.
You have to put all of these into the players. We have to be consistent about our plans for football. For example, in 2008-2010, the former NFF President Sani Lulu, had a vision about the youth development and started the U13, that had the likes of Iheanacho, Akpan, Lazarus and others.
These and other young players were regularly camped during holidays and the coaches were Ilerika and Danladi, while myself and Rafiu Yusuf were the technical officials. We need to bring these young lads to camp regularly, to teach them our football philosophy at the early stages.
Tell us briefly about your playing days and how can it be compared to the present day football?
As a youth, I really enjoyed football. My parents didn’t play football, but my mother was the 100 yards sprints champion during her days. Football was fun for me. Then we played it for the fun and passion, unlike the youths of today, who are more interested in the money.
Nigeria clubsides are not doing well in various CAF competitions. How can you help?
The truth is that our teams are not doing well on the continent. I think we need better organisational structures, that includes a good scouting of players. However, beyond scouting of players, we need to have a playing philosophy and make the players follow it with discipline.
Training a team also goes beyond the regular 11v 11 games. In football, you need all-round fitness; technical fitness, intellectual fitness, psychological fitness, medical and tactical fitness. Importantly, too, preparation is key. According to late Coach Kashimawo, preparation is key to success. You must prepare the players well and properly.
The Germany team that won the 2014 World Cup were put together 14 years earlier. And the likes of Neure, Khedira, Kroos, Muller and others came together at the U10, trained and played together. The 7-0 demolition they did to Brazil was a result of their long understanding and togetherness.
Lastly, are you ready to help reposition Nigerian football, if you’re given the opportunity?
I believe that I have the necessary technical abilities and experience to help reposition Nigerian football, if given the opportunity. I am an avid reader and researcher with lots of knowledge about the Brazilian, English, French and German football.
As technical head of most Nigerian teams to global tournaments, no technical official in Nigeria football have won more laurels than I did. I did won titles for Nigeria at the U17 championship in 2013 and 2015, as well as, the U20 (Falconets) in 2014.
Barrister Chris Green calls me the ‘Best’, because he acknowledges that I am one of the few who could write a match report professionally. He was equally versed in football and you can see what he’s doing with football in Rivers State, particularly, with Rivers United.
I can reposition Nigerian football, if given the opportunity at any level. I have what it takes to tinker any of the national teams, including the Super Eagles. I have been an assistant to Coach Okey Emordi to the 2008 CHAN championship.
I have a good relationship with most of the Super Eagles players from their younger days and most of them call me ‘daddy’, because of the ways I relate with them. I’m sure the players won’t disrespect me, just as I won’t disrespect them, too. And that’s key to the success of any team.
