It was revelation time, fun, happiness, throwback and nostalgia moment on Tuesday, April 7 2020 when Saint Finbarrs College Old-Boys Association, 94set hosted their senior to a interactive session on their WhatsApp platform.
Former Nigeria International and Golden Eaglet of Nigeria’s assistant coach, Nduka Ugbade tells his experience with the historical ST. Finbarrs College. It can be recalled that the former El-Kanemi Warriors defenders started his footballing career with St. Finbarrs College, playing couples of the then Principal Cup before wearing the Nigeria’s captain hand band, leading the nation’s under 16 team to victory in the first ever under 16 world cup in held in China in 1985.
The Old students of 1994 set of the prestigious school championed by it chairman, Oluwatosin Adeniji had an awesome time with the former Golden eaglet gaffer.
Nduka Ugbade also a member of the National under 20 team in 1989 to the under20 world cup where Nigeria finished second behind Portugal. A competition Nigeria’s quarter final match is being referred to as the Damman miracle. Nduka Ugbade scored the equalizing goal to level 4:4 after going down 0:4 to the Soviet Union.
Today he shares his experiences and gives us facts about his time at Finbarrs College and as a player for the national team sides.
Pleas coach can you tell us now it all started at Finbarrs and what year?
Ans: I came to St Finbarrs college, called by coach Mike Malagwu in 1981. I played 3 years there and won the principal cup in the last year.
How did you become the captain and how did you feel as the captain of the National side?
Ans: it was a funny thing. I wasnt invited. I saw them training at the national stadium. I joined them and impressed the coach. We were thousands that came. I was selected and made the captain under a very funny circumstance.
Who are the players that won the principal cup with you?
Ans : we had in the team, Ifeanyi Agenu, Yakubu Okpanachi, Innocent Abuaja Benson ajigebi, udo… And Alot of them in America and here in Nigeria.
What player inspired you in your days in your days as a young player?
Ans: I had a lot of them that are world stars then, like maradona, Pele. But my most inspiration is my coach, coach malagwu. I can’t forget him
What happened you didn’t go for the 94 world cup?
Ans: it’s a big issue, it was politics. it was painful I was removed from the team. If I have gone I would have been the first player in the world to have gone to 3 different world cup at 3 different levels. I had to forgive and try to forget.
Which other prominent retired players came out from finbarrs?
Ans: yes there are, just that I don’t know where many of them now, Late Stephen Keshi, Henry Nwosu, Paul Ekoku, Samson Siasia and lot more… The only person I see sometimes is Samson siasia. I think one of these days you can bring him as well so we can encourage him concerning the issue of the FIFA ban place on him.
What will you do if you are to take Super Eagles to the World Cup, what will you change?
Ans: I will bring the players together, teach them more and and improve them with a lot of advanced information. Then the issue of discipline and responsibility will be placed upon the players if I am coven the opportunity which I play should come one day.
Do you feel well celebrated as an ex international just as your foreigngnn bnb counterpart.
Ans: in Nigerian football, things are not done right.
Is there any pension plan for any player in Nigeria?
Ans: Well, let’s set aside the one of Ifeanyi George. He was insured, the family received 15 million naira. For celebration, no. We are not celebrated. It’s very bad of Nigeria.
Education and Sports?
Ans: Education and sports are very important. Education will give you a good personality and sports will make you very popular. I always advice those in sports to be education. You can have a placement in the society. Education goes with sports.
Why are our youth find it difficult to graduate into the senior team?
Ans: Football has gone scientific and talent is no longer enough. You must develop the talent to become profitable for usage by acquiring necessary tools and information which you need in the advanced high performance level. Secondly, survival. You have the tendency to cheat. And when you play for just 7 to 10 years, you are done. That’s why FIFA is trying that those coming for the competition are truly 17.
What about meeting with the sports minister about educational scholarship?
Ans:its a good suggestion. I think one day it will come and if I have the opportunity , I will suggest it to the minister. Back then, a lot were given scholarship, even studying abroad. Like Mike Emenalo. He was given scholarship to study abroad.
What was the mood like after the damman miracle?
Ans: ah…. It was unbelievable. Loosing 4:0 and combing back to 4:4 in 12 minutes and you went on to win that same game….unbelievable.
what do you think about the present state of the super eagles?
Ans: it’s not bad but a lot of improvement is need. We must be able to do what Ghana did or surpass them beyond qualifying for the world cup. The only thing I don’t quite approve of is that the homebase are not being engaged in the national team. And the league should pay the players a lot.
Which international club did you play for while you were active?
Ans: I played for castellon in Spain. I went to Denmark, I played in Israel as well. I played in Malaysia. I went for trials in Real Madrid. My self and Mutiu Adepoju.
How do you see the quality of our league football?
Ans: The coming of the cable network and the premiership and the rest have greatly affected our football. I see on other counties TV their own league. This was what happened in Nigeria and I am not seeing at again. The stadia are not always full. Except in places like Kano and Jos. People don’t go to watch our football because of some form of riot or bad footballing. If you ask our youth this days about players abroad, they will tell you. But that can’t mention players of our own teams. Some don’t even know the names of the teams.
Coach Nduka Ugbade, having done the interview with the old students of the 1994 set of St. Finbarrs college, promised to honor another if called upon on some more sensitive and important points raised in the chat.
