Ex-international, Nathaniel Ogedegbe was in the Green Eagles camp ahead of the 1980 Nations Cup. In this interview with JOHN EGBOKHAN, Ogedegbe shares the story of how Adokiye Amiesimaka, Segun Odegbami and Godwin Odiye made him to seek University education

What have you been doing since your exit from international football. Any regret or joy quitting the game?

After playing for Nigeria I came to the USA on an athletic scholarship and completed a degree in Civil Engineering. I have been working as a Civil Engineer in the public sector (local, county and state)

What was the biggest challenge that sportsmen faced during your time and how did you people overcome it?

Nathanie Ogedegbe

The biggest challenge we faced during our time was that we did not have good managers to help manage us. We were a technically gifted group of players but there were competing interests between education and football.

For example, I had to leave the Flying Eagles camp for my WAEC exams. At that time there were no opportunities to go play pro outside the country.

What was the secret for you and how did you ensure that it marked a turning point in your life

Watching and learning the game from great players, teammates. The turning point for me was playing for National Bank Football club of Lagos under Coach Dan Ajibode. We were very young and entertaining to Lagos fans in our style of play, with the likes of the Olukanni brothers (Segun & Femi), Paul Okoku, Emeka James and Taju Disu.

Back then, Stationary Stores and NEPA ruled Lagos; we ended their rivalry and brought a new life to the Lagos (LDFA) league. Coach Ajibode provided a supportive environment for me.

I was fortunate to be invited to the national team during the 1980 Cup of Nations and seeing Adokie Amesiemaka attending University of Lagos, Godwin Odiye, in the United States, attending University of San Franscisco and Segun Odegbami at the Ibadan Polytechnic was really inspirational.

These players were in the Green Eagles camp and playing for the country. Practicing with these players every morning and seeing the way they carried themselves, gave me the courage and determination to want to be like them by seeking higher education.

I had also seen some of my idols being treated badly because they lacked education. Being inspired by those players helped me to get where I am now, a civil engineer and still running a soccer program in the state of Virginia.

Of all the coaches that you played under in the Green Eagles, which do you think was the best and what stood the coach out.

Otto Gloria was one of the best coaches I played under because he allowed us the freedom to play the game of football without many restrictions. He did not confine us in the way we played which helped greatly to encourage my creativity on the field.

Mr. Daniel Ajibode, another great coach, I had before being invited to the national camp was from the National Bank days, he was instrumental in allowing me to be creative with the ball and helped develop my midfield playing ability. Coach Ame Laluko was also instrumental in making sure that I developed one, two pass play.

He used to say to me during practice ” Nathaniel Ogedegbe you are mad!!! if you want to dance!, go to the national theater and dance for them there, don’t come and dance in my team here”. It only sinks for few minutes and I am right back to my old ways again. Dancing of course! and the cycle repeat itself again

Are any of your children into sports and if not, what not and if yes, did you encourage them to get into sports.

All three of my kids are natural athletes. My oldest son, Oritsebawo, has played for the Olympic Development Program and the US Soccer Academy Program in Virginia.

He is a very good technical player with good speed which has helped him to become one of the best center backs in the academy league. He is graduating from high school this June and will be going to university this fall on a full athletics scholarship to play soccer.

He is 6’ 3” and weighs 190 lbs. I would ask John Obuh to invite him to camp for a trial. My daughter Oritsejolomi is 14. She played youth soccer for a number of years but has moved onto volleyball.

What do you know of ANED and what are you doing with the body to advance the cause of Nigerian sports and the athletes

ANED is an Association of Ex-internationals in the Diaspora that was formed in order to help the unfortunate ones among us and to help with raising the standard of soccer in Nigeria. This association will give us a collective voice to speak for one another to the Nigerian public and demand actions on behalf of our fellow team mates.

We will be looking at coaching education, soccer camps and programs for schools and working with non profit organizations. We hope to serve as ambassadors for soccer in Nigeria.