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I was the first Ondo indigene to play for Green Eagles – Ogunfeyimi

Prince Zion Ogunfeyimi is the first indigene of Ondo State to play for the Green Eagles, now known as Super Eagles. As a retired football player, coach and team manager, he shares his experience with Maria Famakinwa, Tunde Ayedoju and Precious Owolabi,  offering insights into issues facing the round leather game in Nigeria.

For the purpose of the reading public, could you introduce yourself, sir?

 I’m Prince Zion Ogunfeyimi from Ondo State, specifically from Ugbonla, Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area.

Sir, what positions have you held in sports?

Well, I started playing football during my secondary school days when I attended a local school here in Iju-odo, Okitipupa. Unfortunately, I couldn’t further my education at that time. I began playing football in my youthful years during the 1960s, starting in primary school. I only spent two years in that school before I received a scholarship to attend Hussey College Warri. After my secondary education, I left Warri for Ibadan in 1972, where I played for various clubs.

One of the first teams I helped to form was the Cooperative Bank team, which is now known as Polaris Bank. Although they offered me a job at the bank, I turned it down because I feared working in the banking sector might lead to financial temptations. The general manager offered to give me daily lunch money, but I declined, knowing such arrangements wouldn’t be sustainable.

Eventually, I got a full scholarship to pursue my Higher School Certificate (HSC), which I accepted and resumed my education.

In 1973, during the first National Sports Festival in Nigeria, I represented Western State as a goalkeeper. I emerged as the best goalkeeper in the country at the festival. Following that, I received an appointment with the Shooting Stars Football Club before the festival was even concluded.

I joined the team in August 1973 and quickly rose to prominence. At that time, Shooting Stars was called the Western Nigeria Development Corporation (WNDC). The team later evolved into the Industrial Investment and Credit Corporation (IICC).

In 1975, we qualified for the African Cup Winners’ Cup, which was held on a home-and-away basis. By 1976, we became the first Nigerian club to win a continental trophy.

In 1973, I also joined the national team, the Green Eagles, under the guidance of coach “Father Ticko,” a Yugoslavian. I was the first indigene of Ondo State to play for the Green Eagles. While with the Green Eagles, I balanced my role with my responsibilities at Shooting Stars and the Nigeria Academicals.

During a match, I sustained a serious injury when a horse, amidst field chaos, crushed my ankle. Although I managed to play for some time afterward, the injury eventually sidelined me. My teammate, Best Ogedegbe, succeeded me in goalkeeping duties during the latter stages of our African Cup campaign.

Afterward, I pursued higher education at the University of Ibadan, where I captained the university’s football team and led them to win the gold medal at the 1980 NUGA Games in Benin. During this time, Shooting Stars management sought to reintegrate me into the club, and I negotiated favorable terms before returning.

In 1981, I moved back to Ondo State and helped to form the “Invest-Corp Lions,” a team consisting mostly of players from the state. I also played briefly for the Water Corporation team, which later became Sunshine Stars. I retired in 1993 after over 19 years of service in football.

 Sir, sports is often seen as a unifying factor in Nigeria. Why do you think sports, particularly football, have lost their value  nowadays, compared to your time?

 During our time, football was deeply cherished. Matches would draw massive crowds, and people would camp at the stadium hours before kickoff. Fans had strong connections to players and teams, and the excitement was palpable.

Today, football in Nigeria lacks the same spirit, due to insufficient funding. In my time, players played for the pride of representing their teams or the country. Although money wasn’t a major factor, there was a sense of fulfillment in making a name for oneself.

Now, however, football is all about money. Players leave the country to seek greener pastures abroad, and local clubs struggle to retain talents because they can’t compete financially. The government and club owners must invest significantly in football to revive its glorious days.

Was money an issue during your playing days?

 Money wasn’t abundant, but we played for the pride and honor of our names and communities. Injuries were a significant concern, though. If a player got injured, they were often left to fend for themselves. Today, the situation hasn’t improved much. Players are cautious because they know they’re largely on their own in case of injuries.

For Nigerian football to regain its former glory, there must be adequate financial investment and structures to support players’ welfare and development.

You don’t normally recognise Nigerian referees in the African Cup of Nations, whereas we have referees from other African countries officiating the tournament. What is wrong with Nigerian referees? What is the problem, sir? Is it about the referees or the officials?

 This has been the case for some time now. Even a FIFA-certified referee from Nigeria is rarely included in the Cup of Nations because they don’t seem to believe in the ability of Nigerian referees.

Why?

 It seems they have monitoring teams—referees from across Africa and the world—who evaluate officiating in various countries. When they come to Nigeria and watch matches, they assess how referees handle games. Sometimes, fouls outside the box are misjudged as being inside, among other mistakes. However, there has been some improvement lately because they’ve started hiring younger referees.

In a few years, I am confident Nigerian referees will make a comeback. I am sure that even in this edition of the African Cup of Nations, we will have Nigerian referees officiating. This is partly due to the efforts of the current league management board, who are serious about progress. Nigeria is improving little by little.

Younger referees are now stepping up. Previously, you would see referees aged 35 to 40 officiating matches, and many of them couldn’t keep up due to  lack of mobility. A referee must follow the ball wherever it goes, but many older referees struggled with that. Now, they are bringing in referees as young as 15 years old and grooming them. By the time they reach 25, they will be mature and capable of handling matches effectively.

One major problem in Nigeria is the mindset of winning at all costs. Some teams are willing to do whatever it takes to secure a win. They offer bribes to referees to ensure favorable decisions, even when their team doesn’t perform well. This behaviour tarnishes the image of Nigerian referees internationally.

This is why Nigerian referees are often sidelined in major tournaments. When they are considered, it’s usually for roles like assistant referees on the sidelines, rather than centre referees. However, things are gradually improving, thanks to the efforts of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and other stakeholders.

What steps can the country take to reposition football?

 The answer is money. Without financial investment, nothing will improve. Players need to be paid well. Once they gain recognition, many leave over for better opportunities abroad because they can earn more over there.

In Nigeria, a footballer might be playing for a ministry and earning a low salary—levels 5, 6, or 7 in civil service terms. Winning bonuses are small and inconsistent. For example, a player might earn just 100 Naira per match. If they play four matches a month, that’s only 400 Naira. It’s simply not enough to motivate them to stay.

To improve the condition of the Nigerian league, the government and private sector must invest in players and facilities. During our time, nobody cared about foreign leagues. Everyone went to the stadium to watch local matches, and the management made money from gate fees.

Now, things have changed. Fans are dissatisfied with the quality of the league, and many prefer to watch foreign leagues instead. Some people even leave stadiums feeling angry or frustrated, which sometimes leads to violence, like the tragic stampede during a Shooting Stars match against Bendel Insurance in 1979.

To revive Nigerian football, both the government and club owners need to invest in the sport. However, I understand that state governments have other priorities, and they can’t spend all their money on football. They must balance their budgets.

Still, if they allocate funds wisely and develop the sport gradually, things will improve. Football brings money. Once you invest in it, you will reap the rewards.

What is your advice to the federal and state governments regarding improving football?

 Money is the key to improving football. Without it, the sport cannot thrive. Let the government invest in football—it’s a profitable venture. Thank you.

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