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TAJU DISU, Tech Director LAGOS Soccer Assoc.
Not too most of the younger ones at this time shall be conversant in the identify and the face of one in all Nigeria’s most proficient and reliable defenders. He was so good they nicknamed him Ghadaffi on the sector of play. However his actual identify is Tajudeen Disu. It is just the older soccer followers of the Nigeria nationwide groups that may keep in mind him and his contemporaries with relish. He was a part of that vastly proficient and historic 1983 Flying Eagles workforce that went down in our historical past books as the primary Nigerian workforce to qualify for any FIFA organized event. They represented the nation on the 1983 Beneath-20 Junior world cup held in Mexico. If you’re in search of the primary Nigeria nationwide workforce to boost the nation’s flag at a FIFA World Cup Competitors, it was this workforce.
And no doubt, Tajudeen Disu, tall and imposing on the heart of defence, was an integral a part of that workforce. He was, on the time, one of many best and best defenders to come back out of Africa. Disu was a delight to observe. For a defender, he was good. He impressed tens of millions of soccer lovers within the nation together with his intelligence on the ball. It was all the time troublesome for strikers to go previous Taju Disu, simply because it was additionally extraordinarily troublesome to dispossess him of the ball. He was a dependable rock within the coronary heart of defence, which was why many revered him a terrific deal. He and his workforce mates dazzled on the competitors, showcasing to the world for the primary time the beautiful soccer abilities of Nigerian footballers.
The massive information is that Tajudeen Disu, a few months in the past, was appointed the Technical Director of the Lagos State Soccer Affiliation. His appointment received lots of his contemporaries and followers of his soccer exploits overjoyed. Everybody who is aware of this gentleman and what he has achieved as a footballer is comfortable for him. He has paid his dues in Nigerian soccer. Many are optimistic he’ll ship for Lagos state as a result of it’s a clear case of placing a sq. peg in a sq. gap.
Tajudeen Disu, who has spent the higher a part of the final twenty years residing and training in the US, is retired from soccer and has performed fairly properly, coming again residence to assist revive the dwindling fortunes of Nigerian soccer. Presently, Tajudeen Disu is the Chairman of the Youth Sports activities Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) Lagos, and now has the duty to carry again the glory days of soccer in Lagos state because the Technical Director of the Soccer Affiliation. He began his soccer profession from Ansar’deen Major Faculty, Lawanson Lagos and St Timothy’s School Yaba. Disu represented Lagos State on the Nationwide Sports activities Pageant at Oluyole 79’ and Bendel 81.
He was member of the Flying Eagles workforce that performed in FIFA World Cup in Mexico and later Tremendous Eagles. He additionally performed for Johnson Wythe United FC, Lagos, Nationwide Financial institution FC, Lagos State chosen workforce, Leventis United FC, Ibadan, Abiola Babes FC of Abeokuta, and so forth
Two weeks in the past, Metropolis Individuals’s Senior Editor, WALE LAWAL (08037209290) had an excellent one hour chat with the retired Nigerian worldwide and he took us again to his days as a former footballer and in addition expressed his confidence within the new Lagos State FA board beneath the chairmanship of Fuad Oki, a person Taju Disu believes has the flexibility and the imaginative and prescient to take Lagos state soccer to the following stage and it’s due to the chairman that he, too, is assured he can ship because the Technical Director. Take pleasure in excerpts of the interview.
Let’s begin by congratulating you in your new appointment, sir, it’s a properly deserved appointment that’s lengthy over due since you’re any person that has paid his dues so far as soccer is worried. So, share with us, how did the appointment come?
Nicely, I thank God for every little thing as a result of such as you mentioned, it’s over due. However I imagine that that is God’s appointed time for me. I do know the type of love and keenness I’ve for Nigerian soccer. Nigerian soccer made me. I feel I’m one of many sportsmen which have served this nation from grassroots to this stage. I represented Nigeria proper from Ansar-Ud-Deen Major Faculty, from there to St. Timothy’s School, then, from enjoying at Lagos State Sports activities Pageant to Baptist Academy. Ultimately, I did my A Ranges at Baptist Academy and I used to be the Video games Prefect earlier than I graduated. So, concerning the appointment, Ademola Are who was the Head of Sports activities in the course of the tenure of the fast previous Minister for Sports activities, Sunday Dare, performed a major function. My colleague who was my Assistant Video games Prefect at Baptist Academy then additionally was very instrumental. So, in all of those, I thank God, it’s a dream come true. I’ve all the time wished to present again to the nation, particularly on the grassroots stage as a result of it was grassroots soccer that made me. I began from my youth, enjoying for my major faculty, enjoying for the Surulere native authorities and ultimately enjoying for Lagos State. I captained Lagos State to 2 Nationwide Sport Festivals, 1979 and 1981. In 1982, beneath the Youths Sports activities Federation of Nigeria, I represented Nigeria enjoying within the Gotia Cup in Sweden and in addition represented Nigeria enjoying within the Dallas Cup in Texas, America. We gained these two cups. I additionally represented Nigeria enjoying within the NORWEGIAN Cup in Norway, additionally represented Nigeria within the Danish Cup in Denmark. The final one was after I represented Nigeria in Rio De Janeiro in Brazil when Nigeria gained by a lone objective and that objective was scored by Augustine Igbinabaro who was a former NNB participant.
So, following the Brazilian event, myself, Taju Disu from Baptist Academy, Patrick Udoh from Gaskiya School, Paul Ekoku from St. Finbarrs School, Tarila Okorowanta from St. Gregory’s School, Femi Olukanmi, CMS Grammar Faculty, Segun Olukanmi, CMS Grammar faculty, Samson Siasia from Gaskiya School, late Anigala from St, Finbarrs, late Ramond King additionally from St. Finbarrs School and a whole lot of others had been all a part of the workforce. On the finish of the day, after we returned, I used to be a kind of chosen for the Lagos State workforce to play within the nationwide sports activities pageant in Edo State. That was how I captained Lagos State. After enjoying at that event, about 9 of us had been picked from Lagos State, Coach Christopher Udemezue knew no one then. It isn’t like now that it’s essential have a god father to get into the nationwide workforce. He was an ex footballer himself. He was the primary coach to qualify Nigeria to any FIFA event on the time. Udemezue was a disciplinarian. He suspended the likes of late Stephen Keshi and Humphrey Edobor from the nationwide workforce then. We had been invited for screening and fortuitously, about seven or eight gamers from Lagos State then made the workforce. And it was after the Nationwide Sports activities pageant that I made the flying Eagles workforce coached by Christopher Udemezue and we went for Nigeria’s first ever FIFA World Cup look. He was an exceptionally good coach. It’s not like now that coaches take cash to place gamers within the nationwide workforce.
After that, I performed for Abiola Babes and in 84, 85, 86, 87, we performed 4 consecutive FA Cup finals. And in response to the statistics then, Abiola Babes had the perfect defenders as a result of we conceded solely 5 objectives all through the nationwide league in 1985. Then, you possibly can go away to any workforce and win, not like now that the sport is concerning the highest bidder. Every little thing has been bastardised now. It’s not about how proficient you’re, its about how a lot cash you have got. That’s the reason after we choose groups to go and symbolize us, thy get knocked out within the group phases as a result of the perfect weren’t chosen.
Inform us concerning the new Lagos state FA board
Sure, we thank God at this time that we now have a brand new Lagos State FA board beneath the Chairmanship of Fuad Oki, a person whose management I respect a lot due to the passsion and sincerity he places into every little thing that he does. He has proven that he’s able to bringing again the misplaced soccer glory of the state. I do know many individuals might not like me for saying this however I thank God that I don’t have to attend for his or her cash to feed. Even when I don’t have something, I’ve my American citizenship and my return ticket again to the US. This is the reason I’ll always remember Chief MKO Abiola. He gave me the chance to go to America and examine. He gave me a 4 yr scholarship. I now have a citizenship of America. As soon as I not discover the state of affairs conducive, I purchase my ticket and return to America. I don’t have to get a visa to go to America, my household relies there. So, I’ve nothing to worry. I say the reality all the time. It’s due to my ardour for the sport of soccer that I’m the place I’m now and a part of the Lagos State Soccer Affiliation and in addition as a result of I need to give again. It isn’t concerning the cash. As we communicate, I’ve not collected one dime from the affiliation. I’ve been the Technical Director going to about 4 months now and we now have not been paid any wage for 3 months but I’m doing the work with pleasure and with pleasure as a result of I’m comfortable giving again.
Inform us about your very first event as Technical Director
My first project or event was a extremely good one. We needed to decide the perfect Beneath 15 boys and Beneath 15 women groups to symbolize Lagos State on the Beneath 15 girls and boys event in Asaba, Delta State and we gained each competitions. It was actually an excellent one and I need to let you know it was a really fantastic expertise for the girls and boys.
If you first got here in as Technical Director, what had been your fast challenges? What did you meet on floor?
Thanks very a lot. You see, one of many the explanation why I’m enthusiastic about this job is that it offers me the chance to proper some wrongs. We have to begin setting up the type of alternatives that we had after we had been representing state or the nation as a result of there’s life after soccer. If I have a look at what is occurring to a whole lot of our colleagues and contemporaries in soccer, I really feel unhappy. We should have a pension scheme in place. Elsewhere all over the world, whether or not its America, Britain, identify it, all of the ex-players obtain their pension. Nigeria is the one place the place you possibly can’t discover one thing like that. After serving the nation with all of their youth, sportsmen are deserted and left to their destiny of their time of want. One of many the explanation why I’m again within the nation is that I need to assist these youths to learn from alternatives obtainable to them, to journey to America, additional their training and symbolize Nigeria anytime they’re wanted, in order that in future they may have one thing to fall again on. But when they don’t have anything to fall again on, they may endure. There have been a complete lot of ex internationals that suffered like that and died. And it’s unlucky. I don’t need that to occur to our youths. If I cared solely about my very own youngsters, I gained’t be right here. My youngsters are there within the US, my spouse is there, however I need these youths too to change into any person in life. I need to assist. I need to contribute my very own quota, that’s the reason I’m right here. And I’m comfortable that these youngsters have proven focus and loads of potentials by going to Delta to choose up the gold medals for the girls and boys.
Share with us your impressions of the brand new Lagos state FA board and the chairman
I’ll say one thing concerning the current chairman Fuad Oki. One factor a complete lot of individuals don’t know is that, really, Fuad Oki may not be a soccer identify that’s identified everywhere, however he was additionally a footballer. He was my goalkeeper after we had been enjoying grassroot soccer and for this reason we each have that mutual respect for one another. He grew up in Surulere simply as I additionally ghrew up in Surulere. We had been in the identical youth soccer workforce collectively known as Sugar Babes and we performed at UAC stadium which is now referred to as Teslim Balogun stadium. We normally performed towards the Henry Nwosu, Stephen Keshi set known as The Larger Tomorrow. So, the Fuad Oki who’s the chairman of the Lagos FA at this time was the goalkeeper of Sugar babes. When the legendary Pele got here to Nigeria Fuad Oki was the one in objective. I used to be the one enjoying central defence. I’ve identified him as a childhood buddy for a very long time. For me, I’ve identified him as an ex soccer participant and he is a superb man, very dependable, very targeted. So, he’s a soccer particular person. He is aware of soccer. He has performed soccer. I can let you know that if he was only a politician, I’d not have come on board. And once they introduced him on board, I wished to contest because the chairman. Gafaar too wished to contest because the chairman, making three of us. After I noticed him, I mentioned I do know this man, this can be a former teammate. And he informed me he’s coming in to make a distinction and I imagine in him and that’s why I settled for the place of Technical Director. Once we spoke, I may see he means properly for the youths and the sport of soccer. As I’m speaking to you now, this man has been fantastic. His efficiency to date has exceeded my expectations. He spends his personal hard-earned cash to make the gamers really feel good. In case you go to the gamers and discuss Fuad Oki, you’ll hear the nice issues they may let you know about him. I need journalists to come back and speak to the gamers, not the officers, as a result of there are some officers who will not be proud of the trustworthy and clear method he has been working the affiliation. I’ve mentioned this brazenly earlier than a number of instances and I’ll say it once more, I’ll help Fuad Oki to the final. I do know that no one is ideal. He might have made some errors, however nonetheless, what I have a look at is, had been they these errors made out of a honest want to do issues proper? Does he imply properly? And if the reply is sure, then, he’s the person for the job. He must be allowed to do it.
What are the tournaments you’re planning to place in place for the youths in Lagos state to organize the youths for actually huge nationwide and worldwide competitions?
Thanks for this query, let me let you know about a few of the issues we now have already put in place. The Chairman, Fuad Oki, introduced again avenue soccer, he introduced again Principal Cup. Avenue Soccer is beginning quickly. We’re assembly tomorrow to fantastic tune preparations for the take off of avenue soccer. Avenue soccer was on throughout Fashola’s time however all of the sudden, when he left, they wiped it off. However he has introduced it again once more. Principal Cup was one of many issues that made Lagos State Soccer develop and he has introduced it again. They may begin the Principal’s Cup after the Avenue Soccer. He has additionally introduced again Oba’s cup. He has introduced again like 5 completely different applications that was once on floor. I’m the chairman of YSFON in Lagos. He gave me the chance to take the Lagos state Beneath-15 workforce to go and play Beneath-18 event final month. We misplaced within the quarter finals. That gave us the energy to go and win the Beneath-15 event. You’ll be able to see the transition. After I first introduced up the thought, some individuals went to him and mentioned don’t enable him to take the workforce to play beneath 18 event o, they may get injured. However he mentioned, no, the Technical Director is in cost, and he has mentioned they may study extra, and get extra event expertise, so there is no such thing as a trigger for alarm. Imagine me, it’s essential see the best way the under-15 girls and boys gained the event convincingly in Delta. Fuad Oki actually motivates them. He buys meals for them. He talks to them. I’m aways there with him together with the Chief Coach. So, there’s a lot that Fuad has performed. He has not given me cash or something, however I can let you know, this man will ship.
So, you’re saying that Lagosians ought to anticipate higher days when it comes to the event of soccer within the state?
You’ll be able to quote me wherever, this man will ship. Take it from Taju Disu. If not that he’s the one in cost, I in all probability would’ve taken my bag and journey. The issues the person is bringing on board, there is no such thing as a method we gained’t obtain outcomes.He’s enthusiastic about what he’s doing and that’s what we have to transfer our soccer ahead. Already, they’re calling me from the US to come back and play with these youngsters, as a result of they noticed all their performances that I posted on-line. There may be an NGO in North Carolina by which I’m the chairman, they need to get these younger girls and boys to high school. And that’s what gave me the chance to go to high school in America after enjoying Dallas Cup by means of YSFON. So, I need to do my very own bit to make sure that these youngsters get such alternatives. With Fuad Oki in cost, we are going to carry again all of the misplaced soccer glory of Lagos State and construct a strong basis for our youngsters that may assure their future survival.
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