I thought my life had ended after I lost CBN job – Onyemachara

JULY 14, 2013 

Onyemachara

Ex-Flying Eagles defender, Mike Onyemachara, of the 1989 U-20 World Cup Damman Miracle fame tells ’TANA AIYEJINA in this interview about his time with the U-20 team, the Super Eagles life on retirement, family and more

 How is life in retirement as a footballer?

Whether you like it or not, one thing or the other will lead you into retirement. In my case, I had an injury on my left knee while at Iwuanyanwu Nationale and I couldn’t go further, so I had to quit playing in 1998. I have been in Nigeria since I retired from playing football. I am into coaching and I am presently the head coach of BRF Academy, Lagos.

What was it like playing for Nigeria?

Every player wants to play for his country, make a name and dedicate his career to his country. That was my ambition, which I fulfilled. Playing for Nigeria was my target and it is the greatest thing that has happened to my life.

Can you recall your Nigeria debut?

My first game was against Zaire away; it was a 1989 U-20 World Cup qualifier. It was a beautiful day, I must confess. We were in Maiduguri for camping when we were told that we would play Zaire. They brought a chartered flight to Maiduguri, which took us to Lagos. We went to Zaire from there. I was overjoyed seeing myself in a chartered flight. I asked myself, “Am I the one going to represent this country?” I never believed it. It was like a joke.

How did you feel playing at the Saudi ’89 U-20 World Cup?

 If you haven’t played for your country at any level of the World Cup, it is like you’ve not really done your best. So, I was happy to have helped in qualifying my country for the World Cup. At least we showcased ourselves to the world at the tournament; coming out second was not a mean feat.

Against the USSR in the quarterfinal, the Flying Eagles were trailing 4-0 but you equalised and won on penalties. What was going through your mind when you were four goals down?

Coming back from 4-0 down was not by our own making; it was by God’s grace. My intention was that, “God, help us reduce the scoreline so that we don’t look humiliated when we return home.” If the scoreline read 4-2 or 4-3, it would still have been better. But I was surprised when we equalised with less than 24 minutes to the end of the match.

What was the mood like after the historic equaliser by Nduka Ugbade?

It was celebration galore; everyone was mad. The Russians knew that they were lucky because we could have won the game 5-4 under 90 minutes but Dimeji (Lawal) threw away a chance before the game went into extra time and then penalties. They were not too happy; their president sent a chartered flight from Russia immediately to pick them up.

You eventually won on penalties in what is now known as the Miracle of Damman. Can you recall celebrations after the game?

It was not a Nigerian celebration alone; it was worldwide because people hardly saw that kind of comeback in a World Cup competition. After the game, we went out for shopping in our green and white track suits. A Saudi Arabian, who sold shoes, saw us and said, “Are you Nigerians?” We said, “Yes.” It was myself, Dimeji, Nduka (Ugbade) and Jimoh Balogun. He took us to his shop and there were shoes everywhere. He said, “Pick any pair of shoe of your choice.” And we did. He said, “How many of you came?” And we said, “25.” He then replied, “When you get to the hotel, tell the others to come and pick their shoes as well.” We did and every one of us got new pair of shoes from the man. That was why I said it was a worldwide celebration. It was when we came back to Nigeria that we learnt that every street was blocked after we achieved that feat.

How did you feel after the defeat to Portugal in the final?

If we played that final game over and over again, we will lose because we lost the face of God. We won all our matches through God’s mercies but the day we wanted to play our last match, we lost the face of God because there was quarrel. It happened to the Israelites. There was chaos in our camp. In the morning and before going to bed, we used to pray together as a team but a night before the final match, we had problems. We came out to pray, but it was not as it used to be because of the quarrel. We never believed that it was God that was doing it for us; pride and ego came in and God turned his back on us. If you look at the two goals Portugal scored against us, they were cheeky.

Why were you not able to progress to the Super Eagles?

I, Dimeji, Chris Ohenhen, Nduka, Chris Nwosu and Mutiu were in the Eagles camp in the early 1990s but because of personal problems between (Tunde) Disu and (Clemens) Westerhof, he (Westerhof) saw us as a threat to him. He decided to push all of us out. He felt we might form a clique in camp to destroy him. Only Mutiu was retained. I was in camp severally; (Edema) Fuludu, Willy Okpara and Davidson Owumi were my roommates.

Do you have any regrets?

Thank God I played for the junior national team and was called up to the senior national team. I was part of the game where Alloy Agu lost his teeth in Ghana. I was dressed for the game. So, I don’t have regrets.

What is your opinion on the plight of Nigeria’s ex-footballers?

As far as I am concerned, as an ex-footballer, I am part of them. We cannot compare ourselves to Europe. They recognise their ex-footballers  there but we are yet to see the person that will do it for us here. I give kudos to (Babatunde) Fashola for keeping me where I am today. My family prays for him every day because he touched the life of their breadwinner. I was with Central Bank of Nigeria before but I lost my job. It was like life has ended but Fashola took me out of the dustbin and placed me where I am today.

How do you cope staying in Ajegunle?

People feel Ajegunle is a bad place but I tell them they are entitled to their opinions. I don’t see the place as bad. There are changes now. Moreover, I call where I stay GRA Ajegunle. You can see it for yourself.

Was it your intent to play football?

You know they say man proposes God disposes. When I was in secondary school, my initial intention was to go into music. I know how to sing. But I was the games prefect of my school and I played football very well. Even when I gained admission into the polytechnic, I was still active as a footballer. My elder brother, who was working with First Bank, took me to Lagos after I finished from secondary school. I played for the bank for six years and I captained them. That was how I developed interest in football and from there I was invited to the Flying Eagles.

What is the difference between Nigerian football in your time and now?

There is a very big difference because today, we are no longer enjoying our football. Since I left football, I have not gone into any stadium to watch a game. Who am I going to watch? When we were playing, there were particular stars people trooped into the stadium to watch.

Age falsification has smeared Nigeria’s image at youth levels of football. Did you play with your true age?

Age falsification is not a Nigerian issue alone. Even the western world do it but because African countries like Nigeria and Ghana are now dominating the junior cadre of the World Cup, they decided to bring up the age issue.

Did you play with your true age at the ’89 U-20 World Cup?

Actually, we played the competition when it was the FIFA U-21 World Youth Championship unlike now that it is renamed the U-20 World Cup. When I played in Saudi ’89, I was 20 plus and under the age limit.

What is your advice to up-and-coming footballers?

It pains me to see Nigerian players not dedicated, committed and determined. They have not reached any heights yet they are wearing earrings and plaiting hair. We didn’t do all that in our time. They should make their names first.

Did you live the flashy lifestyle like present players do now?

During our time, we didn’t do all those things. Things change every day. Such things were not of interest to us during our days. They are playing for money now but we played for name. But making the name makes me happy because I am not begging and my name rings a bell. I am enjoying myself with my family.

How did you manage the women that came with popularity?

Girls will come but I thank God I got married early and we are still together. When I left ACB of Lagos to play for Iwuanyanwu in Owerri, people asked me if I could cope with the girls. What I saw was what they told me. So I decided to quickly get married.

How did you meet your wife?

It happened naturally. She ran a fashion business and I had to pass through her shop to train. On this beautiful day, I passed through the shop and she looked up and we looked at each other. The same thing happened when I was returning.  That is how it all happened and today we have four lovely kids.