By StaveNYEBE
Recently, yours sincerely revisited one of my favourite pastimes by visiting Jesus College, Otukpo, after many years, to watch a football match between two youth teams in the finals of a sponsored competition.
One major lesson I have learnt from life is the gradual loss of interest in certain events as age creeps up on one. The flat Jesus College football pitch has however continued to hold its own in a town brimming with great sports talents amidst near total absence of facilities. This is the famous home ground of Otukpo based football teams such as Obe’s Babes, Obeya Babes, NEPA FC, etc. In the 60s and 70s especially, the Jesus College football pitch played host to such great names as Sam Garba Okoye, the Atuegbu Brothers of defunct Mighty Jets of Jos; Chris Udumeze, who coached the national team; the Kpakor Brothers of BCC, and many more football legends.
As I sat quietly watching the match a few weeks ago, my mind’s memory also recalled fantastic football displays by some home players. Those easily remembered included the likes of Isaac Owuna(Ebli), Icha Aba, Barnabas, Rabbon Zoro, Hot Water, goalie Isaac Edoka, Aje, Ekah Ijachi (Artillery), Odaudu the master dribbler, etc. As the match progressed into the second half, my frustration became apparent as the game was disrupted several times due to unruly behaviour both from players and supporters who invaded the pitch at will.
The indiscipline displayed by these young players on the reverred Jesus College pitch just took my mind to ex-Nigerian international, Wahab Adesina(simply known as Waibi in Otukpo), and I concluded that most of these young lads would have to imbibed the lessons from Wahab if they intend to go far in the highly paying football playing business. Incidentally, all young Nigerian footballers aim to play professional football outside the country and earn jumbo pay.
Wahab (Waibi) Adesina grew up in Otukpo, though of Yoruba parentage. He started exhibiting his great footballing ability right from his junior days at Government Secondary School, Otukpo. By the time he got to the senior class, he had become a household name in Benue State already, representing the State in all competitions as one of the best defense maestros of the time. Nobody was left in doubt that the young boy was on his way to the highest point. It was not surprising when he was called up to the national team as one of the youngest ever.
Even as a young Secondary school student, Waibi demonstrated unparalleled focus on football. Of course he did his work as a student diligently, but he remained focused on football, utilizing any little time outside academics to the game. He had a knack for going to the field alone to juggle the round leather before others joined him. His juggle was a marvel to watch. While camping for one of Nigeria’s National Sports Festivals in the 70s at Aliade, it was a permanent routine for Wahab to go to the football pitch one whole hour before his teammates in order to juggle the ball at least a hundred times without it dropping to the ground. Once, he was so focused that he never knew he was being watched, until we started clapping when he surpassed the one hundred score. That was the sort of concentration he developed by himself.
I stand to be corrected, but one of the greatest lessons Wahab demonstrated in both his national and international call-ups was his unequalled self discipline on the pitch. He was never known to argue with referees, nor was he given to responding badly to dangerous tackles by opponents. If he was brought down he simply stood up and continued his game. Not like these young lads I watched recently at Jesus College who seemed more like in a tournament of jumping on each other, as if riding horses.
Focus, Self-discipline, Dedication, Practice, as well as playing to the instructions of the Coach, Perseverance, and Determination to succeed, and most of all Confidence in one’s self, are all lessons from the footballing legend, Wahab Adesina, which young players seeking to reach the apex must imbibe.
As I left Jesus College and drove towards the the dusty ancient town(aka texas)that evening, leaving behind the confusion that trailed the end of the match, I thought of how Self-discipline has been the basis of the rise of Idoma footballers such as Amokachi(the Bull), Ogenyi Onazi, Tony Ujah, and a host of others. Indiscipline has also cut short the careers of many promising football stars. I will not call names here.
The fact remains that football skills and talent remain only “potential” until Discipline, Focus, and Determination are employed to drive them to the desired destination. Just as Waibi and others did. I prayed silently that more of their type will still come out of Idomaland.
Today, after a very glorious football career, Wahab is comfortably settled in Ireland. He has not forgotten Otukpo. He is a member of the Idomaland Sports Legends and always contributes handsomely to the groups activities.
*This piece is dedicated to the extraordinarily skilful footballer of old in Otukpo town known simply as HOT WATER, who, despite having lost his sight, still asked to be taken to the Jesus College field just to hear the sound of the round leather being kicked around
