Why Akwa United is up the League Ladder –Paul Bassey

How would you describe your transformation from one of Nigeria’s foremost sports journalists to a mainstream sports administrator?

Transformation is a complex and deep word. I will prefer to use the term transition where it connotes movement. I still hold on, and firmly too, to journalism as my culture medium with a bias for sports writing. However, in the course of my work, I had ventured into, experimented with sports administration using CAF and FIFA as a platform. When you work for CAF, FIFA you are condemned to coming into contact with men and women with proven records in sports administration and you “tap” from them, directly or indirectly. That made my “transition” easier. Mainstream? Not yet; still on the banks (laughter).

For a typical “Lagos Boy” like Paul Bassey to leave the glitz and glamour of rambunctious Lagos couldn’t have been a decision taken lightly. Please let us into the secret of this transformation.

Again, let us ignore the word “transformation”. The late Navy Captain Adeusi (Bless his soul) started the move to bring me back home when he realized the “Bassey” in my name was Akwa Ibom and not Cross River. An avid sportsman, he was not comfortable with sports progress in Akwa Ibom and as military administrator of the State believed I could come and help sensitize sports. Tempted me with the offer of a Sports Commissioner -I dodged. I preferred to remain “his friend” not a Commissioner (his staff). Gave him a lot of excuses most of which did not really make sense. . . What I did not tell him was the strong pull of Lagos that makes you feel as if other parts of this country are glorified villages. . . Governor Akpabio made the same offer when he came on board. Here, the present SSG Sir Etekamba Umoren can best explain why it did not work because he (SSG) did everything humanly possible to bring me on board. Today, here I am. Governor Udom Emmanuel’s approach was blunt and threatening. . . “Sports Bassey I do not care whether you become CAF and FIFA President. You should come and join me in building our dear State. We have to revive sports especially at grassroots level. We must recapture the past sports glory of our region. . . ” I got tired of avoiding him at airports and public places. . . I surrendered.

Akwa United has witnessed a meteoric climb up the league ladder to the extent of winning two trophies within months. Whose magic touch is that?

Meteoric. . . magic touch. . . But for my colour, you would have seen me blush. On January 1, 2017, a Sunday, we took this team to God. We said to him that as humans we had limitations and we wanted Him to take over from where we were likely to stop. The God factor is very Key. Then comes my Governor; very knowledgeable in sports matters. My Principal, the State Sports Commissioner is a backbone. I operate in a State where workers are not owed salaries and this impacts positively on the management, technical crew and the players. . . When you have fulfilled your own part of this bargain as regards prompt payment of salaries, bonuses, welfare and so on, you can enforce discipline and ask for the moon. . . All these hands are on the knife that cut the celebration cake. The icing is the experience we have garnered over time.

How are you preparing for next year’s continental appearance of the club?

The year 2015, we went into the continent for the first time and despite a 1-0 victory at away in Congo we lost by a similar goal margin at home and exited through penalty shoot outs. We want to do better and this informs our present plans to fortify the team in all departments, hope and pray for a favourable draw.

From the performance of the club so far, it will appear that it is insulated from the neglect which many state-run clubs complain about

Yes, very much so. We alluded to this above, especially in the areas of prompt payment of players’ emoluments and their welfare packages. Football and indeed sports is very expensive to run, and we thank the State Government for this. This year we are taking a stronger look at marketing and sponsorship to beef up our revenue base, riding on the crest of our moderate success so far to ask sponsors to come on board.

Continental engagement will require the retention of your stars. How do you guard these stars from foreign scouts and poachers?

One of the pluses of “going continental” at the end of the season is that you retain your stars and attract others from less successful clubs. Nigerian players are crazy about going abroad, playing in the continent with the hope of attracting foreign scouts out there. That pedestal, we have.

Could you give an insight to what is required to run a club successfully?

Money, money and more money (Don’t laugh) yes you can have tons of money and lack organizational savvy. Give me the money first. . . Quality players don’t come cheap, allied infrastructure and equipment, good coaches, running cost (by the time players huddle in a bus from Uyo to Maiduguri, don’t expect the best from them) such trips have to be repeated as you go to Bauchi, Yobe, Katsina, Nasarawa, Ilorin, Minna, Akure. . . How do you fly them without money?

What are the safeguards against clashes between the management and the clubs technical crew which can lead to decline in the performance of clubs?

This is a question that has to do with DISCIPLINE. I have emphasized on this because it is the bedrock of the success of any team. Our Club organogram is self explanatory as to individual functions and responsibilities. The Chairman can only enforce the sanction on a player when that recommendation has been handed down by the Technical Adviser led technical crew. RESPECT for constituted authority is also paramount. We have been lucky so far.

Please give us an insight into the emergence of the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo as the new Mecca of Nigerian Football, outclassing older stadia in more densely populated cities

The Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, popularly referred to as, “The Nest of Champions,” is a beauty to behold; one of the best in the continent. Sports loving Governor Udom Emmanuel (Nigeria’s Sports Governor of the Year 2017) an avid football fan and supporter of Arsenal FC (after Akwa United) came in deciding to use the facility to maximum effect, especially in the hosting of international matches. Fortunately, no edifice in this country compares to it. Also, it is one of the very few that has natural grass. Without wasting too many words on its presentation, became the natural choice as home of the Super Eagles of Nigeria and what a home. This year, from a so called “Group of death” harbouring Cameroun, Algeria and Zambia, Nigeria qualified for the World Cup with a match to spare.

New giants have overthrown the super powers of Nigerian football…Shooting Stars, Rangers, Mighty Jets, Calabar Rovers, Kano Pillars, etc. How did this come about?

New giants? Perhaps. But how can you overthrow the likes of Rangers, Shooting Stars and Mighty Jets from the subconscious of Nigerians? Not by ephemeral glories. Enyimba has tried to be victory constant and this can be directly linked to the man at the helm of affairs, former Abia state Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, who even when he left, did not disrupt the management of Felix Anyansi (Has been there for over 23 years as Chairman). The present governor of Enugu State must identify Rangers International as an institution, more than a football club. Shooting Stars; regrettably relegated this year, cannot survive when players are owed a back log of salary arrears.

Can you recall some of the most unforgettable events you covered as a sports reporter?

Perhaps we should leave this answer for another day. Many, too many. Is it the Dammam Miracle? The Atlanta Olympics? World Cup USA 1994? Defeat of Spain in France 1998? China 1985? . . .

Compare sports reporting today with what it used to be between the 70s and 90s

There is really no basis for comparison. Then, we worked hard, very hard to “get news.” The word “Exclusive” was sacrosanct. No internet, no whatsapp, no Google. Now, at the touch of a button, all that you need is available to you and all you do is “copy and paste”. It is very disheartening to open three to four newspapers today and read verbatim a report that has been “lifted” from a foreign site. Then, we worked at it. We rewrote stories to fit into our environment and so on. Today, it is different. Then, a bronze by a Nigerian athlete at the Olympics was the gold of our headlines. We interviewed athletes, sportsmen, footballers. Today, ministers, commissioner and chairmen dominate our media space. . .

Before you start your column, give us a snippet of what came to be referred to as the “Daman Miracle” in Nigerian football?

“Dammam Miracle” in brief, occurred in 1989 in a city called Dammam in Saudi Arabia, venue of the quarter final encounter of the FIFA World Youth Championships (U-20) between Nigeria and the then Soviet Union. This was the first time ever, a team came from 4 goals down to win a match. Four goals down at the hour, Chris Ohenhen started the comeback through a free kick in the 61st minute and Nduka Ugbade drew the match level in the 84th before we went on to win 5-3 penalties.

Who were your mentors as you climbed the professional ladder?

Mentors came, even from “abroad.” Mention Shoot and Match Football Magazines. . . never missed any. Father Slatlery, founder of Saint Finbarr’s College who prophesied that I was going to be a “good sports reporter”. Oyo Orok Oyo, the “Mr. Football” of Nigeria. Ernest Okonkwo, then FIFA Director of Communications Keith Cooper. . . quite some list. . .

What is your assessment of Nigeria’s performance in sports? What does the country need to do to move up the ladder of global sports rating?

Unfortunately, the contents of some of our columns 20 years ago are still relevant today as regards the professionalism of our sports. Unfortunately, most of our challenges are systemic. Political punctuations and the neglect of grassroots sports development are just some of the bane of our sports growth even at domestic level, despite the glut of latent talents available to us.

Name ten of the best indigenous coaches Nigeria has produced and your reasons.

Ten of the best indigenous Coaches? Tough one. In no particular order Eto Amaechina, Adegboye Onigbinde, Christian Chukwu, Chris Udemezue, Carl O’dwyer, Stephen Keshi, Monday Sinclair, Shuaibu Amodu, Samson Siasia. Remind me to do a more thorough job here even as I pray I have not left out anybody. The common denominator for me is success at a time nobody gave them any chance. Success in the midst of challenges, harnessing raw materials and polishing them to become diamonds and shining stars.