Fatai Atere is a big name in Football. 35 years ago, he was a member of the 1985 Golden Eaglets team that won the first-ever FIFA U-16 World Cup in China. On August 11, 1985, the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria, in faraway China defeated West Germany 2-0 to win the cup. He also captained the team in 1987 in Canada where they ended as runners up.
For his efforts, he and his colleagues won cash gifts and they all had streets named after them. There is a popular street in Mushin where he grew up called Fatai Atere Way. The street was named after him by President Muhammadu Buhari. He lives in Maryland in the U.S. where he is a certified Coach with a football Academy in Tampa Florida. He also works with the Washington Metropolitan Authority Transportation Police.
He was our guest a few days ago on City People Instagram Chat, and he spoke about his life and love for football.
Let me start by asking what has been happening to Fatai Atere?
I thank God for life. I am here in the United States (US) just chilling. (Laughs).
Do you miss Nigeria?
I come to Nigeria every year, so, I won’t say I am missing her that much.
I also know that you are a certified coach in Florida?
Yeah! We do have an academy in Florida, and we are doing very good.
How has it been, when you think of football in those days and now, what comes to your mind?
In those days, we played for passion and the love of the game, but now everything has changed.
How did you cope back then being one of the star players?
Like I said, all glory be to God. I played my part, it was a team effort. When we were leaving the country, nobody knew we were going to make anything out of the World Cup. But at the end of the day, everybody was wondering, “who were these guys”. It is God and we thank Him for everything.
Are you still in touch with some of your 1985 Golden Eaglet team members?
Yeah! Every one of them, except the late one, Kazy Akiobale may his soul rest in perfect peace. Aside from that, we have a forum where we talk to one another every now and then, trying to keep in touch with one another.
Let’s recall that FIFA World Cup in China, you guys won, how did you feel that day?
Like I said, going to the tournament nobody knew. We only planned to complete the number because we had 32 teams competing for the same thing. We went there, unknown to us that we were going to win. Our first game was the toughest, against Italy, we didn’t know what to expect, but we were able to beat Italy 1.0 and that gave us a lot of confidence and we kept on striving as God would have it, we got to the final.
I can recall vividly a guy, after the first half, came out and said: “What continent is Nigeria from?” And we were looking at ourselves. We said don’t worry, will go tell you after the game. We were all ready for the game. We were like saying: ‘Today is today, tomorrow no more. This is our chance. I remember the Coach, Christian Chukwu, was telling us: “You guys have 40 more minutes to become the World Champion, and by then we were leading in 1.0 in the first half, and he said: “You guys are going to make history that will never end for life. You guys have to go back there, do what you need to do and make sure we keep that 1.0 lead”. And at about 30 seconds to the end of the game, Victor Igbineba scored the 2nd goal and that was it.
It was one of the best goals in the tournament. We were like, we don’t know what to do, in fact, we didn’t even know how to celebrate. We were like “Nigeria became the World Champion?” Wow! We didn’t realise the gravity of what we did until after we got back to Nigeria. It was a very nice experience.
How about the 1987 Canada’s runners up. How was it?
That was good too. We had a good run. We were able to get to the final again. In the quarter-final, I got injured, and I couldn’t play the semi-final. We were defeated by a penalty kick.
We did everything, but God so good, if we had won that game, they probably would have cancelled the Under 17 by now, because they didn’t expect the black nation to win it. It was also good as well and we did enjoy it.
For very many years now the major issue we have been discussing as always has been the problem with Nigerian football, what do you think is the problem with Nigerian football. Why are we not where we should be?
The problem with Nigeria is the failure to put the right people in the right places. The people who control football in Nigeria are politicians. They don’t know anything about the game. They don’t know what we went through. They don’t know how to put it together. So, we need to take it from them and put people who know the game, who could play the game, who could run it extensively, the way it should be run. That would change a lot of things if they can do it.
Let’s talk about Covid-19, how has it affected the game of football globally, from your own perspective?
It depends on different parts of the world. In America, I think about 160,000 have died now. In London, they were able to complete the Premier League. It affects everybody differently. It depends on what you are doing in your country and what I am doing in my country. America now is trying to put things together because it is getting worst, but to God be the glory, everything is under control. At least, it hasn’t affected my family and anybody whom I know. I thank God for that.
How do you cope with the effect it has in your area?
It is a new norm, and everybody needs to adjust to it. If you don’t want to catch it, then you have to follow all the rules; wear your masks always and stay away from people. I am an essential worker here in the US and I have to go to work every day, so I have to make sure I perform everything they ask us to do, and do it the way it should be done.
How do you do to keep your shape?
I am supposed to be on the field by now if not for this interview, I have to run around and do my normal exercise to maintain my shape.
Which city are you based?
I am in Maryland.
What are the other plans you have, relating to football?
I have never left football like I said. We had an organisation here in America called the National Soccer Federation, USA (NSF USA). I have been the Commissioner for the past 12 years, whereby we go to different states and play tournament. We have about 32 states coming in to play tournament and they are all Nigerians in the diaspora. We give scholarship, monetary value etc and we always have Scouts around us. If you are so lucky and you are picked by the Scout, you can go from there to play professional football anywhere and make a life out of it. And we do give honour to our old professionals who have played the game before.
We have honoured people like Segun Odegbami, Tajudeen Disu, Dehinde Akinlotan, Christian Chukwu was supposed to come here (Maryland) at one time, Paul Okokwu and a host of others too. Every year, we honour our own heroes. Something they were unable to do in Nigeria, but we are doing it here. We are doing good and keeping it running.
But for this period, we have to postpone it because of Covid-19. We are going to Atlanta next year by God’s grace.
Years back you guys were promised a lot of things by the government for the good job you did. Did the government fulfil its promises?
As at that time, if we must be sincere with ourselves, they did not fulfil their promises. If you could still recollect that was the year Babangida’s government was overthrown by Buhari’s government and that was when we were in the process of collecting what they promised us, but as God would have it President Buhari called us back 2 years ago, 2017 and he was able to fulfil the promises. We were given money, we were given a scholarship and stock exchange (shares), though we don’t know what happened to that. We were supposed to make money with the stock exchange, but we couldn’t even trace it. They also honoured us with (MON). And he said in his words that ‘promise is a debt’ and he was happy to become the President again to be able to call us back and award us accordingly, and that makes him to be a very good man in my view.
Can you take us through some of the major clubs you played with, while you were active as a footballer?
Starting from the grassroots, I played for Super Stars at Bariga. Then I moved on to play for Igbobi College. I was in the team that won the 1st Principal Cup for Igbobi College after 38 years. They used to call us Igbobi College Sooroye because the team always got to the final without winning. So, I was a member of the team that won the 1st Cup for them.
Moving forward, I played for YSFON in various tournaments, I played for Greater Tomorrow and I played for International Bank of the North for West Africa. My last club before I left the country was Bank of the North in Kano.
The money that you got paid at that time, were you able to invest the money?
In ‘85, they gave us 5,000 naira. They paid us according to our age. So, what can one do with 5,000 naira (laughs). But we were able to generate more money from playing in every state and countries in Africa.
What is your take in Video Assistant Referees? Do you think it is going to help the game?
It depends on the way we are looking at it. It could help the game and it could kill the game. Looking at the Premier League, sometimes, they overrule some clean goals, vice versa. So, it depends on who is looking at it.
What is the difference between your generation and the new generation in-terms of commitment?
In those days, we played for passion. We played for recognition. We played for the love of the game. But today, it is about money, a lot of money. And that makes it different. Playing for National Team in those days, it was a big honour to wear Green-White-Green Jersey. The game is not about passion any more, it is about the money and I don’t blame them, because it is not easy. In those days, we were just raw materials. We didn’t have any Agent or Manager to manage us, but now so many things are involved and require money.
The game of football has turned you to the star you are, how do you cope when you go to places and your name is being mentioned?
That is what you see, I don’t see myself as that. I am still the Fatai Atere who was born in Mushin (laughs) I thank God for my life, anywhere I go, people talk about me, yet I don’t see it as a big deal.
But you are a living football legend…
Thank you. At least, coming from you, I am honoured. There is nothing like being humble, my brother.
What is your advice for the current team we have in Nigeria?
Like I said, when we were growing up, our father always told us to always read our books. We had to have a degree. I think it was my generation that started playing. Every parent will tell you then to go to school, that football is for those children who didn’t obey their parents. But now, it is a different thing, but at the same time, you have to have your degree, you have to go to school, because football is not forever. You can have an injury and you will also get old at one point. But if you have your degree you would have something to go back to. You can play and still go to school.
Who are the footballers you looked up to as a young lad?
When I was little, I used to play outside right, so I used to admire my Uncle Segun Odegbami, the Mathematician. I used to look at him as if he was performing magic. But when I got into trouble with my coach he told me to be a midfielder and the only midfielder in Nigerian team then was Muda Lawal.
So, watching him was like watching Al-Jazeerah every day. Those were my idols then.
Before you left Nigeria, were you able to touch some lives in Mushin?
Yes! I coached many of them. I took them to tournaments and they are all big soccer players now. I used to take them to my mother’s house and give them bread and beans. I always gave them money and many other things. So, I did my best. That is why you have Fatai Atere in Mushin because I lived all my life there.
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