He played with a group of footballers who can be termed Nigeria’s ‘Golden Generation’ – Late Muda Lawal, Best Ogedengbe, Christian Chukwu, Okalla and others – but having hung his boots, Siji Lagunji is putting his experience to good use: he is a technical staff with the Nigeria Football Federation. In this interview with BASSEY EKPO BASSEY, he talks about his best goal as a professional and how his proud father watched him play.
?Why did you decide to go into professional coaching?
I have always loved the game. At some point in my playing career, I had challenges and decided to go into coaching. Even then, I knew I had the flair for coaching and I decided to explore that flair. People make the mistake of thinking that coaching is easy; that is not true. You have to be extremely talented to be a good coach and to coach at the highest level. For me, the talent is inherent; that is why I have succeeded at the highest level.
?When did you join the professional league as a player?
I played in the first professional league in 1990 with Iwuanyanwu Nationale of Owerri. Before then the league was like an amateur league; still, you could not have called it an amateur league because every player in the league played the game professionally. We won the league with Iwuanyanwu in 1990. But before then I started playing when I was in CMS Grammar School,? Bariga, Lagos in 1974. We were Lagos Principals’ Cup champions. I proceeded to the University of Ife? and we won the NUGA games bronze medal in 1978, the West African University Games Silver medal in 1981, where I was adjudged the most valuable player and highest goal scorer, we also won the NUGA games silver medal in 1982. ABU Zaria hosted the competition that year. I joined IICC Shooting stars of Ibadan in 1980 while I was still at the university and played with the likes of Segun Odegbami, the late Muda Lawal, Best Ogedengbe, etc. We were young, talented and exciting players then. As a matter of fact, we won the league undefeated in 1980. We did the impossible by beating Rangers in Enugu that year. No other team had managed that feat. I played club football with about 10 Nigerian teams and won honours with all of them. There was no year we did not win something. I also won the league title with the great Leventis United team of 1985.
What is the major difference between your playing days and the players in the league today?
Those days we played with whole-hearted commitment; we were really interested in playing football. It was even difficult to get into the national team because there were talented players throughout the length and breadth of the country. We also had a good developmental programme. Right now, as I speak to you, the management of my former school, CMS Grammar School has built a classroom block on the very pitch we used to play football in. How do you expect the kids to develop when there are no facilities for them to play? Sports development needs to start right from when children get their basic education.
?When did you decide to go into coaching?
I stopped playing football actively in 1992 and started by coaching amateur teams in my community before I got my coaching badges. I worked with International Breweries Plc before moving to premier League outfit, Kwara Stars. I also consulted for some premier league clubs before I got my appointment with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
What is your designation in the NFF?
I am the chief technical officer. We are two. My colleague, Coach Rafiu Yusuf and I carry out the day-to-day running of the technical department of the Football Association. It is a lot of work. As you know, the technical department is the livewire of any football organisation. We plan for the development of the game with players and coaches. We collaborate with the coaches on the invitation of players for national assignments. We are very creative. We oversee the training sessions of all the national teams and report to our boss, the deputy general secretary, Emmanuel Ikpeme, on the day-to-day activities of all the national teams whether they are in camp or not. We monitor players playing locally and abroad and liaise with their clubs on when to release them for national assignments.
What are the difficulties you encounter in carrying out your duties?
We work as a team. It helps to virtually eliminate problems. At times when players report to camp late, it is a problem because it messes up our programme. By and large, the Federation has made it very easy for us to work by providing all we need. Even then, there will always be problems but we are paid to solve them.
?Did your family support your passion for football?
My family reacted badly because they wanted me to go to school, which I did. Football actually does affect your academic performance but my parents were strict and ensured that I finished my education. Today, I have four degrees, including an M.A. My family started supporting me when I started playing bigtime football and the money I brought back helped a little in easing some of the problems at home. My father used to proudly call his friends to come and watch me on television any time I was playing. Football opened doors for me. I became a household name. That is why I am with the Football Federation now.
?What are the problems with the National teams?
As far as I know, there are no problems. I came into office 14 months ago and in those 14 months, management has made sure there are no problems:? players are camped on time; bonuses are paid on time; coaches come here and we solve their problems. Things are good and will get even better.
?What is your greatest football experience?
My game was extra-ordinary. People said I did things that were impossible. I idolised Pele and watched his tapes over and over again. All he did, I copied to score goals, over-head kicks, flying headers, bicycle kicks – you name it. My greatest goal was when I got the ball at the edge of my 18 yard box and dribbled all the opponents in front of me to score a goal. The chairman of the sports council of the time said that I played like a spirit. I enjoyed football and was lucky to avoid injuries throughout my career. In Shooting Stars, they called me ‘the professor’ and IBM fans called me ‘commander’.
?What does coach Siji expect his football future to be?
As a human being you want to get to the pinnacle of your profession. I am no exception. I want to be remembered as a person who impacted positively on Nigerian football.