Etim ‘Maradona’ Esin was one of the most gifted and talented attacking midfielders of the Super Eagles in the early 90’s. Apart from playing for some of the country’s big teams, he was among the first generation of Nigerian players to play professional football in Europe.
In this interview with Ifeanyi Eduzor, he spoke about his football career, love for the late Pillar of Sports in Africa, Chief Moshood Abiola (MKO), and state of Nigerian football.
For sometime now, you’ve been quiet on Nigerian football, what’s actually happening?
You’re right with your observation. It’s not that I’ve been quiet, but the truth is that there is a certain time in a man’s life that one decides to lie low and watch things from the sidelines. Right now, I engage in motivational talk to young ones and upcoming players especially at the grassroots level where I believe raw talents abound because that was where I was discovered as well as making my own little contribution to the development of Nigerian football whenever the need arises. I also scout for players and use some of my friends in Europe especially Belgium to get club sides and good contact for them. So, you can see that I m busy and doing great things to help upcoming players.
At a time you were involved in football analysis but suddenly, you stopped, what happened?
I still engage in football analysis whenever I’m called upon to do so by radio or television stations. It depends on the contract available at any time. It will interest you to know that I’ve done analysis for AFCON and World Cup in some radio and television stations. I believe it’s high time our media houses start emulating their European counterparts by involving ex- internationals in most of their football analysis because having played the game at the highest level, they stand a better chance to give quality analysis when a game is going on.
During your playing days, many Nigerians know you as ‘Maradona’ while others call you infant terrible of Nigerian football, how did you come about these names?
The name ‘Maradona’ was given to me by late legendary football commentator, Ernest Okonkwo. Ernest you will agree with me is the greatest radio commentator that has come out of this country and with his oratory, he has the gift of giving every Nigerian player name which suits their football artistry. Probably he felt I was comparable to the Argentine great and legend ; Diego Maradona and that was how he gave me that name while infant terrible was given to me by fans because of the way I terrorise opponents inside the 18 yard box.
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As a player who played football at the highest level, starting with a youth team, Oron United to Iwuanyanwu Nationale, Calabar Rovers and Flash Flamigoes before moving to Europe, what will you identify as the major difference between your time and present players?
The difference is very clear. During our time, we were more committed and played the game with patriotism and passion . It was a great achievement then being called up to the national team and those of us fortunate to be invited to the national team see it as a mark of honour and respect and we put in our best to ensure we make fellow Nigerians happy. But the reverse is the case now, because every player wants to travel to Europe even when it’s obvious they don’t have the qualities and this is a major problem.
You were a member of Chile 1987 Junior World Cup and part of the Super Eagles immediately after that tournament, casting your mind back, what are some of the memories you will remember in that World Cup?
Being part of that tournament was a great honour and we all looked forward to winning something but unfortunately, we couldn’t make it beyond the first round. Having said this, I want to tell you that playing under late Coach Chris Udemezue was awesome. He was like a father to all of us and the relationship among the players was very cordial. We had great players in that team like goalkeeper,Willy Okpara, Peter Nieketin, Ikpowosa Omorogie, Lawrence Ukaegbu, Thompson Oliha, Victor Igbanoba, Nosa Osadolor, Biodun Adegbenro and Baba Ibrahim and we all related very well. I was equally happy that after that experience, I graduated to the senior national team where I played six World Cup qualifying matches but unfortunately because of circumstances beyond my control couldn’t make the World Cup team. This was not because of poor form but because of circumstances which I don’t want to remember and I regret not playing at the World Cup which is the dream of any player.
You were once shot by armed robbers and accused of rape in Belgium, could you say these two incidents affected your career?
Definitely, they affected my career especially the rape case. My being shot by armed robbers then showed me how Nigerians loved me. After the unfortunate incident, I received a lot of good will and get well messages from many Nigerians and even the government did all that was necessary to see that I got the best medical attention and I am ever grateful to the government and Nigerians for their concern at that time. On the rape case, I think it was youthful exuberance that contributed to it. Actually, I thought the girl I had an affair with was 18 years because she looked that age, not knowing that she was 16. I believe that incidence helped cut short my career and I don’t want to remember it but I will be ever grateful to the late Pillar of Sports in Africa, Chief M.K.O Abiola for standing by me and paying a fine of $50,000 to get me out of trouble.
But don’t you think if you had not ran away and stayed in Belgium to clear your name, the situation would have been better?
Actually, it was some friends who advised me to run away instead of staying in Belgium because I would have been given a long prison sentence but I’ve forgotten about the ugly incident and have moved on with life.
Would you say your moving to Europe early in life to play professional football helped in shaping your career?
The answer to your question is yes because my movement to AA Gent, Lokeren and Lierse SK really helped my game at that time. However I want to correct an impression held by many Nigerians that late Stephen Keshi was the first Nigerian to move to Belgium for professional football. The truth of the matter is that I was already in Belgium before Keshi arrived from Cote d’Ivoire. Although he facilitated the coming of many Nigerian players to Belgium but the truth is that I was there before him.
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How would you rate the present Super Eagles under Franco- German Coach, Gernot Rohr?
The Franco- German is doing a great job and now many Nigerian players are being invited to the Super Eagles to fight for shirts and at the end of the day, the best players will be selected. I also believe that the international friendly matches with Serbia and Ukraine came at the right time and the one with Brazil few weeks to the Cameroon 2020 qualifier against Benin Republic will help the coaching crew select the best players for that encounter. You know that Brazil is the number one football playing nation in the World and playing against them, improve the confidence level of players.
Are you not worried that most ex- internationals are living in penury and how would you like them to be rehabilitated?
it’s unfortunate that Nigeria abandons those who suffered for them. How can one explain that with all the great goals scored for this country by late Rashedi Yekini, he was abandoned to die by the government and NFF and buried like a commoner. Apart from him, former great players like; Sam Opone, Peter Anieke and Raymond King all died unsong and even Peter Fregene that is bedridden has been abandoned by the NFF and if not for the financial intervention of Femi Otedola, may be by now Christian Chukwwu would have gone. There are still others down with one illness or the other while those that are not sick, cannot pay their bills or their children school fees, with some having running battles with their landlords over accumulated unpaid house rents. So, there is need for a good welfare package for players so that they will not retire in pain.
Don’t you think that the absence of a united players union is part of the problem?
I quite agree with you because some people because of their selfish interest have ensured that the players union is not in peace. I believe that if we have a united and more purposeful players union, it will be easy to fight for the welfare of members as is done all over Europe. When you go to England, players union is not only vibrant but united and powerful and do not joke with the welfare of members and that is what we’re lacking here. It is because of a well organised union in England that players like John Fashanu is enjoying today not minding that he had only few caps for the three Lions. But here, the NFF will not allow it to stand because they know that with a well coordinated players union, they cannot toil with us and welfare of members will be adequately catered for.
Talking about grassroots football, you were at the finals of the just concluded VCN U-17 tournament, what is your take on the competition?
I was overwhelmed with what I saw because there were a lot of good quality players in that tournament and the standard of play was equally high. Kudos must go to the sponsor, Chief Victor Nwaribeaku for putting up such a competition and inviting some ex- internationals like my humble self, Victor Agali, Friday Ekpo, Friday Elaho and Segun Fatuase amongst others. The young man need to be encouraged and we need more of such grassroots competitions to move our football forward.
Do you have any regret playing football and what advise do you have for upcoming players?
I don’t have any regret playing football because without my involvement in football, I wouldn’t be known in this country. My only regret was that my career was cut short because of some unruly behaviors. Having said this, my advice to upcoming players is to be disciplined, dedicated, train hard, listen to coaches instructions and be off drugs and most importantly not allow youthful exuberance affect their sense of reasoning.