Nigerian Football
Legendary Nigerian goalkeeper, Amusa Adisa clocks 80
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Former Super Eagles’ goalkeeper trainer, Amusa Adisa is 80 years old this Saturday. He was the goalkeeper trainer of the Super Eagles when Christian Chukwu was at the helms in the post 2002 World Cup period.
Adisa, a goalkeeper in the great WNDC team of the 1970s is famous for the penalty kick save he made in the 1971 Challenge Cup final which was the first to be played nationwide on strictly club bases.
Leading to the historic penalty kick save, the then WNDC which later changed to IICC and now 3SC were leading the rave of the moment, Enugu Rangers by 2-1.
As the WNDC held on tenaciously to their precarious lead, a penalty kick was awarded to Rangers and it was to be taken by Godwin Achebe, a household name in Nigerian football and a player who at 19 in 1959 had the honour as a schoolboy to captain Nigeria in his debut.
He had never been known to miss a penalty kick. At the time, Sports Village Square recalled that there had been 14 penalty kicks in regulation time in Challenge Cup final matches.
Only four had been missed. Then came the fifth one from the legendary Achebe almost at the dot of regulation time in this hectic Challenge Cup final match played on 23 October 1971.
As he took the shot, Adisa dived full length and parried the ball to safety. It turned to be the most memorable penalty kick save in the annals of Nigeria’s national cup competition.
Adisa took over from Peter Fregene as Nigeria’s goalkeeper when he was put in goal in the 13 February 1971 friendly match with Sierra Leone.
At the time, West German, Heinz Maroztke was making his debut as Nigerian coach. Adisa kept a clean sheet as Nigeria won the game 1-0. He went on to guide the goalpost seven more times for Nigeria.
Remo Stars on Saturday made it two straight wins in the Nigeria Premier League after labouring to a 1-0 defeat of Sunshine Stars of Akure to follow-up their last weekend 2-0 away win over Abia Warriors.
On Saturday, under eight minutes they shot ahead through Shuaibu Ibrahim. That was where the story ended as Sunshine Stars came up strongly and almost stalemated scores.
The win, though narrow, is enough to temporarily take Remo Stars to the top of the log after two games.
They are followed by Rivers United who beat Heartland 3-1. It is the second consecutive 3-1 loss that Heartland are getting in the two-week old season.
The situation could change on Sunday when other matches are played.
On the card are: Akwa United hosting Abia Warriors while Kano Pillars will be away to Bayelsa United.
Katsina United host Bendel Insurance and Niger Tornadoes will be home to Nasarawa United. Shooting Stars will host Plateau United.
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, who was in Arnhem, Netherlands.
Former Nigeria manager, Clemens Westerhof has recommended one of his former players, Samson Siasia as the substantial coach for the Super Eagles.
Siasia was one of his players of the famed golden generation of the Super Eagles.
“I called him last month to greet him for his birthday and also to celebrate with him for the end of his five-year ban”, Westerhof told Sports Village Square at his house in Arnhem in the Netherlands.
According to him, Siasia is just like Keshi and that he has the capacity to turn the Super Eagles around for the better. Westerhof, the author of the famed ‘Golden Generation’ of the Super Eagles made his suggestion shortly after Germany’s Bruce Labbadia turned down the Nigerian job offer.
Westerhof remarked that he was surprised about the choice of Labbadia in the first instance and that the now Mali coach, Tom Saintfiet who is his friend could have been a better choice.
Saintfiet, a Belgian, was speculated among the coaches initially short-listed for the Super Eagles’ job. But Westerhof, before the naming of Austin Eguavoen, another member of his famous 1994 squad, strongly back Siasia for the job.
He remarked that he was in touch with the former striker as well as Austin Okocha whom he met with in London recently.
To Westerhof, Siasia has the same quality like Stephen Keshi to handle the Super Eagles. “He has done it before and I think he can still do it.”
The balls hit the nets 17 times this Sunday as the Nigeria Premier League Season 2024/25 burst into life this Sunday.
The first of the goals was from Plateau United’s Olawale Doyeni who converted a 24th minute penalty kick against Katsina United in an eventual 1-0 home win.
Another star-man of the the day is Enyimba’s Clinton Jephta who has become the season’s first hat-trickster. His three goals in the 65th , 70th and 73rd minutes sank heartland 3-1 in their home match.
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