Widely travelled former Super Eagles midfielder, Garba Lawal, tells ‘TANA AIYEJINA about life in retirement, winning Olympic gold, playing at two World Cups and more in this interview
How is life in retirement?
It’s been great and everything is going on well. I am doing very well after playing professionally for a very long period without serious injuries to my ankles, knees or any other part of my body. I was never operated upon, so I am very fine.
How have you coped with managerial duties at Kaduna United?
I have been in the Kaduna United board since 2010/11 season and it’s great to still be around football.
As an ex-international, how have you been able to impact on players of the team?
I think seeing them around me is massive. I am someone who started playing from the amateur level and went on to play internationally. So, I think I am like a role model to them.
You are also a member of the technical committee
…
I have been there since 2008 and it’s been an experience I relish. I think it’s a great achievement. Everyone wants to work in the federation or at the national level after retirement, so it’s good to give back your experience while playing. Life is all about ups and downs but I am so grateful to God for the way things have gone for me.
You were always criticised for your style of play but successive national team coaches kept using you. How did you feel then?
I love to play under pressure. You don’t have to like my game. I achieve what I want to achieve. Whenever I was criticised, that was when I doubled my efforts. Even those criticising me knew my worth. The same people tell me now, “Since you left the national team, we haven’t seen a replacement for you.” I am happy that I left legacies behind me. Whatever they say don’t matter; what is important is that my legacies are still there. Playing at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics, the World Cup in 1998 and 2002 and playing at the Nations Cup from 2000 to 2006 is massive. I am grateful to God; millions of Nigerians are looking for this kind of opportunity but they don’t have. I am one of those that had the opportunity and I grabbed it with both hands. I thank God and the coaches I worked with in the national team. I played under about eight coaches in the national team. It was a great experience and I was happy playing under everyone of them.
Did you think the U-23 side would win the football gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games?
No one thought about that but we were confident we could beat anyone. We didn’t know how far we would go but we were sure if you could score against us, we could score against you as well. Brazil scored three goals in the first half in the semi-final and the coach told us we could score three goals in the second half and we did. He didn’t trade blames for the goals we conceded; he didn’t say it was a player or the goalkeeper that was responsible for the goals.
How did the players celebrate that massive 4-3 semi-final win over Brazil?
Let me tell you, it was a miracle from God. No one can explain that.
The team also came from behind in the final to beat Argentina 3-2 and won the Olympic gold…
It was a continuation of the miracle and it felt great winning an Olympic gold medal. It was amazing beating the likes of Brazil and Argentina on the way to winning the medal.
You scored against favourites Spain in the Eagles historic win over the Europeans at the 1998 World Cup. How did the players make it happen?
The World Cup is a different ball game entirely because all the top stars all over the world want to take part in the tournament. I think that was the best squad Spain ever had; I have never seen any squad like that again but they didn’t have luck on their side. Bora (Milutinovic) said we should play 4-5-1 but the players on the pitch saw the danger in playing that formation. If we played 4-5-1 with one striker upfront, Spain would kill us. So we (the players) decided to change to 4-4-2. We changed our style. Spain were very good in every department. Even their bench was packed full with stars. At the end of the day, we were lucky to beat them 3-2, that is football for you.
The Eagles were favoured to beat Denmark in the second round of the ‘98 World Cup but fell 4-1 instead. Is it true that there was division in camp before the match?
It wasn’t about division but about overconfidence. We thought Denmark was going to be an easy game. I remember Michael Laudrup making fun of us and telling us, “Take it easy with us guys. We know you are going to beat us but don’t score too much goals.” They called (Tijani) Babangida and (Sunday) Oliseh; both of them were in Ajax then while I was also playing in Holland for Roda JC. So we were already thinking of playing Brazil in the quarter-final. But football is not like that. If you get carried away, you get flogged. That is how it all happened.
How did the team feel after the heavy defeat?
That is football for you; if you lose, you lose. You can’t come back and play that same game.
Two years later, expectations were high that the Eagles would win the AFCON trophy for a third time on home soil but the team lost on penalties to Cameroon in the final…
Victor’s (Ikpeba) penalty clearly went in but the referee watched Victor’s reaction in taking his decision. The ball did not touch the net, but it bounced behind the line. That is what happened. No hard feelings. That is football.
Was it true that a mafia, who decided how the team was selected, existed then?
I don’t know. I didn’t know anything about mafia. I only played for my country anytime I was invited. I play my football and leave.
What were the challenges faced by players during your playing days?
It was very challenging because in a particular position, you had about three very good players battling for a place. We had good quality players then; players who could make the difference. Now we no longer have such players. Then we played as a team, not as individuals.
Do you regret not winning the Nations Cup?
No. I reached the final once and won bronze three times. There are no hard feelings, afterall I won the Olympic gold, which is a big achievement too.
How do you feel when you look at your Olympic gold medal?
I feel good but sometimes I even forget that I am an Olympic gold medalist; I forget that I have an Olympic gold medal. But when I remember, it’s still like a joke to me. I keep asking myself, “Am I the one that won this medal?” So, I am very grateful to God.
Is it with you or in a bank?
Yes I have it. It’s with me. Where do you want to go and take it? If you don’t participate at the Olympics, there is no way you can have it. Even if you take it and tell people that you are the won that won it, people will ask, “Who are you?” They can give you the names of Olympic gold medalists from Nigeria.
Can you recall your competitive senior debut for Nigeria?
I was first called up in 1995 ahead of the 1996 Nations Cup in South Africa, but we didn’t attend it but my first game was against Kenya in January 1997. It was a 1998 World Cup qualifier in Nairobi, Kenya. I felt great. I had been wearing the green and white colours in friendly games but the World Cup qualifier was a massive one. It was after the Olympics. Wearing Nigeria’s colours was an ambition for me and I have never regretted my decision. I always stood by my country first before my club. I always told my teammates and officials that one day I would return to Nigeria. I didn’t go to Europe to stay. I am an African, a Nigerian and I am proud.
You were very powerful and hardly sustained injuries during your time as a footballer. What was the secret?
I always try to give myself enough rest. After trainings and games, I always go back home to relax. I gave myself so much time to rest. I was lucky not to have serious injuries. Sometimes I had some knocks and would be out for one or two months but I never had long injuries that would keep me out for eight months. I never experienced anything like that.
What are your best and worst moments as a footballer?
I don’t have worst moments; you win some and lose some. But my best moments was winning gold at the 1996 Olympic Games and playing in two World Cups.
Who was the toughest player you played against?
I don’t recall if there is any. I only play against an opponent who comes to me and I don’t think there is any particular player who gave me any tough time.
After a career that saw you play in three continents, where would you say you enjoyed your football most?
That is definitely Holland. I was there for a very long time at Roda and I enjoyed my time very well.
What is the difference between your generation of players and those in the national team now?
We had collective play. When we played, we were one, like brothers. We had individual talents, we had a lot of quality players but we played as a unit. Sometimes players didn’t even want to be substituted. Everyone wanted to give their best.
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