| How
I make great footballers
Says, Celestine has 50 - 50
chance of playing again
By ONYEWUCHI NWACHUKWU
Saturday,
April 19, 2009
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•Sabo
Babayaro
Photo: Sun News Publishing
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No single individual in Nigeria has committed himself to
the discovery of talented young footballers like Alhaji Sabo
Babayaro. What started like a hobby in 1976 when the idea
to make potential world-class players was hatched in his mind
after he quit active football, later metamorphosed into a
nursery for young footballers, which he later named Highlanders
Academy.
From then, Alhaji Babayaro was not deterred that he didn’t
get any monetary gain from his investment in budding talents
spread across Kaduna, until one of his players, Celestine,
recorded a major breakthrough with the Golden Eaglets’
squad, which won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Japan in 1993.
Several other players, who are still playing for the Super
Eagles like goalkeeper Greg Etafia and Osaze Odemwingie were
also discovered through Babayaro’s academy.
But what are the criteria for knowing whether a teenage player
would become a great star? This and many more were the questions
Sunday Sunsport asked Alhaji Babayaro in this exclusive interview
in Kaduna last Sunday.
He also commented on why some of the players who passed through
him jettisoned their father’s name and adopted Babayaro
as their surnames. Enjoy it!
The general impression is that you must be an old man having
discovered players like Celestine Babayaro, who won several
laurels for Nigeria, but you’re really looking quite
young. Who really is Alhaji Sabo Babayaro?
The man speaking with you is the real Alhaji Sabo Babayaro.
The truth is that I am an old man even though I look very
much younger than my age. If you see my age mates, without
telling you, you will think they are the same ages with my
parents. That is my nature.
How did you come into football to the extent that you were
behind the success stories of some of the best players to
have ever come out of this country?
I was born into football because my father played the game.
I come from a family that played football as far back as when
there was really no monetary gain from the game. During our
time as players, we used to contribute money to buy balls
and jerseys to enable us train and play matches.
We heard that most times, you spend your money in discovering
the talents that are hidden all over Kaduna State and that
it was just of recent that you started to make something from
football. So, from where do you derive your satisfaction?
Honestly, my greatest satisfaction is that all the players
I have produced are responsible. You can never see drunkards
and drug addicts among the players that passed through my
academy. In essence, money is not everything in life because
money can come and go, but good character is what makes a
player successful. I thank God that all my players have impeccable
characters.
How do you spot great talents?
I used to be a footballer when I was young, and when I could
no longer play, I decided to produce great players, especially
those born and bred in Kaduna. Making money was not my target
when I started my academy. Moreover, there was no money in
football at that time. I used my academy to promote unity
in the country, because I have players from every part of
Nigeria playing under me. Anytime you go to my house, you
are likely going to see nothing less than 100 players living
with me. You will find Hausas, Ibos, Yorubas, Gwaris, Tivs
etc. I believe in the unity of Nigeria, that is why I don’t
discriminate against any tribe.
I must say that I inherited that attribute from my father,
because when we were growing up, we related freely with everybody
regardless of where they come from. In those days, there were
no religious and tribal disagreements in the country. I remember
that we used to call a Yoruba man with heavy tribal marks
uncle, and because of the liberal nature of my father, we
were tempted to believe that he could be a Yoruba or an Ibo
man.
How true is it that you forced the players you discovered
to bear your surname?
If I am compelling my players to bear my surname, why then
is a great player like Osaze Odemwingie not bearing Babayaro?
Osaze played under me, Greg Etafia played under me and many
others. So, why are they not bearing Babayaro? I didn’t
force any player to adopt my surname and in fact, as I am
talking to you, I cannot explain how Celestine, Emmanuel and
Victor adopted Babayaro as their surnames.
But are you happy that those players honoured you by adopting
Babayaro as their surnames?
Of course, I am happy because they have not tarnished my image.
So, what is happening to Celestine Babayaro, is his football
career over?
Celestine has not retired from football. The truth is that
he has a serious injury and if it heals, he can go back to
football. But if the injury persists, he will retire.
As his godfather, what is your advise to him?
As far as I am concerned, Celestine’s health comes first.
My advise on whether he should return to the national team
or club will come after he must have recovered from his injury.
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