Former Super Eagles’ striker and assistant coach, Daniel ‘Da Bull’ Amokachi has come out with a startling revelation about his military background, Sports247 reports.
The ex-international football star, who was fondly called ‘Amo-Taxi’ during his days with Everton of England, recounted how being the son of a military officer helped him develop self-confidence and courage.
He added in a recent chit-chat that he already had a strong mind and determination to excel in football while he was still a secondary school student in Kaduna.
READ ALSO: Soname Blames Win At All Cost Antics By Clubs For Absence Of Investors In Nigerian League
Nonetheless, the former player and current coach of Lobi Stars FC, who has also been a TV pundit and motivational speaker, admitted that it was not smooth sailing all along for him, as he was actually apprehensive ahead of his first training session.
He recalled: “When I had the opportunity to play for Ranchers Bees, the team with which I played my first professional football, I was in year five in secondary school. I remember, when I went to the first training, I stayed in the car and I couldn’t come out. They had to find somebody to come and ask me to step out.”
However, while ‘Amo’ admitted he was cautious before stepping out for his first major training session, things soon took a dramatic turn when he settled down fully with the team.
Amokachi, who also played for Club Brugge of Belgium and Besiktas of Turkey at the height of his career, added that the huge turning point for his career came during a West African Football Union (WAFU) Cup clash with ASEC Mimosas of Cote d’Ivoire.
The star with a swashbuckling style of play during his heyday further recalled, “They were playing ASEC Mimosa in the WAFU Cup final. We beat them 2-1 in Abidjan and 3-1 in Kaduna to win the cup. In that game, I scored two goals, and Nigeria’s coach, Clemens Westerhof, was there.
After the game, we were all celebrating, and our curator, Oliver, came to tell me that an Oyibo man wanted to see me. I didn’t take him seriously; so he pulled my hand and dragged me to follow him. That was how I met Westerhof for the first time.”
He concluded by revealing that his military background came in handy during his first encounter with Westerhof, as he was able to make a bold impression while speaking with the national team’s gaffer.
“He shook my hand and said I was a good player. I told him I knew. Even at that time, I had enough confidence to speak out because I am from a military background. My dad is a military man, and he taught me a lot about bravery.
I know everything about being courageous; and that’s where my self-confidence came from,” Amokachi posited.
He went on to reveal how Westerhof made many prophetic statements about his football career during their first encounter in Kaduna, and noted that all of them came to pass several years later.
