Not many of today’s youngsters will know the name, Ben Iroha, but the older generation of Nigerians who are football lovers will never forget him. He is by every means a football legend. Benedict Iroha, is one the former Super Eagles players who did Nigeria proud when they won the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia in 1994. They also dazzled the entire world at the USA 94 World Cup where they beat some stronger teams and emerged the fifth best team in the world. He played alongside the likes of the late Stephen Keshi, Samson Siasia, Daniel Amokachi, Augustine Eguavoen, Jay Jay Okocha, Rashidi Yekini and so many others. He was one of the most gifted defenders in the African continent. Iroha was a left back but he played like an attacking left winger, supporting the attack going forward and knowing exactly when to stay back and defend. He was one of the few defenders in his time who could move the ball around and play intelligently, not just kicking the ball out of the 18 yard box like many defenders did back then. Ben Iroha was one of the Super Eagles legends that graced the annual ARISE 2022 programme organized by the lovely philanthropist, Dr. Siju Iluyomade.
City People’s Senior Editor, WALE LAWAL and Society Editor, TAYO OYEDIJI, caught up with Ben Iroha at Onikan Stadium and took him down memory lane. We also got him to talk about the current state of Nigeria’s football.
It’s indeed an honour for me speaking to the legendary Ben Iroha. Tell us, sir, how do you feel knowing that several years after you and your contemporaries left football, Nigerians have not forgotten you, your contemporaries and the beautiful memories you guys left us with till this day?
Honestly, we are honoured. We served this country very well and we know the country loves us and appreciate what we did during our time. And that’s why we gave everything we had in us to the sport. We are still willing to serve the country in whatever capacity they deem fit to use us. What we are doing here today is part of it. We are here to impart in the youths some of the valuable rudiments of the game that they need to know. I know there’s still a whole lot for them to learn but we will start from somewhere.
These days people are always trying to compare today’s Super Eagles to your generation in terms of skill, in terms of commitment. During your time, when you guys stepped onto the pitch, it was like this is war and you were ready to lay your life down for the country, despite that there wasn’t money in football like you have today, what was the driving force for you guys back then?
Well, for us back then, commitment was everything to us. We played like we were looking t9o get new offers from foreign clubs. And we were all like one big family. Though we were all doing well in our foreign clubs, but once we get on the pitch, we played like we were looking for new opportunities. The passion, the commitment was there. There are lots of talents in this country no doubt, but nothing can be compared to our individual talents then. It was different back then. You can’t have Jay Jay Okocha again. You can’t have Yekini again. You can’t have Ben Iroha, Okechukwu Uche, name then. I’m not saying the crop of players we have now are not good, all I’m saying is we were more talented in our time.
How about the commitment you guys had, how come we don’t get that again from these guys?
I wouldn’t say it was same. We were playing without anything. We did simply because of the love for football and for our country. Every generation is different. They have their own motivation, but I will say none compares to our generation.
In your time, we had the best defenders in Africa, if not in the world. From left back to right back and center of defence, you guys were the best because we had defenders who didn’t just kick the ball around, they moved with the ball and supported the attack. Tell us about that great goal you scored in Tunisia 94 after that beautiful move with Jay Jay Okocha?
That is what I was saying, that in that team, we had talents. Jay Jay and I didn’t plan that goal. We didn’t practice it in training, but at that important moment, it just came. I was playing attacking football as though I was an attacker playing from the left side of the pitch. It came so natural. It’s a gift. It’s just like Jay Jay, what he can do with the ball, nobody I the world can do it, so it’s just a gift. But I believe we can still produce talents like that if we are given the opportunities to do it. Many countries are now employing their former internationals to help run their country’s football, but it’s not so here and it’s not helping us.
I was going to come to that. All over the world right now, in Europe, many countries are bringing back their football legends to run their football, what efforts are you guys making to pressure the authorities and push for that kind of change of baton here in Nigeria?
We’ll, we are not even saying give us ministry of sports or NFF Chairman, all we are saying is involve us on the coaching side, on the technical side. There is a lot we can give. So, that’s all we’re asking for. If you involve us, we will deliver for sure, because we’ve been there. This is real natural gift that we have amongst us and we can impart our gifts into these guys, that’s all we’re saying.
A few of your guys like Eguavoen, the Bull, have had opportunities to handle the national teams in one capacity or the other and they made great impact, how do you think this will help you guys who are also waiting in the wings to get such opportunities?
Yes, you know, it’s not enough to just give one or two persons the opportunity, there are so many of us, including Amokachi and Eguavoen that you mentioned who still have so much to give to this country. Many of us still have the passion for the sport. For example, when the national team is in camp, invite us to be around them. Not only the national team, even the local clubs. Let’s go and talk to them, train with them and help to develop them, that’s all we’re asking for. All of my contemporaries that will be playing here today are all free and looking for such opportunities to come their way.
When do you think we will get to that point where we will be relying only on indigenous coaches for our national teams? Why do we still go for foreign coaches who have no name where they are coming from?
I honestly thought they would give Eguavoen the chance. Yes, he couldn’t qualify us for the world cup but they could’ve left him in charge of the team so he can build a new team. But you know Nigerians, no patience. I don’t know how it’ going to happen but it will take a special president to do that.
What regrets do you have after giving so much to the game?
Yeah, I don’t think the authorities have given us the chance to do what you can we can do, but I believe the NFF chairman will do that and bring us closer. Once they give us that encouragement, the ones that are interested will come forward. For instance, I live in Dallas where I run a small football academy and they are all doing well and that’s what we’re talking about. Many of us still have this desire to give a lot more to this country. Mutiu is there, Okechukwu is there, Tijani Babangida, these are legends that can do something for this country. So, we’re waiting for the new chairman to involve us more. We are not interested in taking over their office, all we are saying is put us on the field to perform in technical areas where we can be useful for the country.
Since you left football, how busy have you been? What have you been doing?
Well, I coached under -17, under 20, Iwuanyanwu, EFCC and I coached Super Eagles temporarily, I handled under 23, I have done quite a lot but I was not given the chance to do more. You know, I am based in Dallas, so for me to leave my family to come down to Nigeria, it has to be worth it. So, if I’m here and I’m still not appreciated, I have to go back, so that’s why I went back. And I’m into business as well and I thank God I’m doing very well.
There is a new NFF chairman, Ibrahim Gussau, is he somebody you think can turn Nigeria sports around and work with you guys? Are you getting such signals from him so far?
Yeah, I knew him when Mallam Maigeri was in charge. He’s a very simple man. I don’t know him that deeply but I believe he has seen what is going on. He has to make efforts to do the needful and make amends where necessary. And if I get the chance to talk to him, I will talk to him too. All I will tell him is, involve us more.
If you were given the opportunity today to turn the national team around, what are the immediate things you will do, looking at the present crop of players that we have? What are the things you think we must do right away to change the mentality of that team?
Honestly, we have talents in this country. Our boys are everywhere doing very well. I will ensure we engage only the players that want to play and give their all to this country, not the ones who just want to use the national team as a break to come home to relax. Play for the national team the way you play for your club even tough your club pays your salary. Many of us even played more for the national team than when we we’re playing for our various clubs.
Somebody like Victor Osimhen?
Yes, Osimhen, that guy, I love him. He plays with everything in him. That’s why we are looking for quality players, whether home based or foreign based, people who will play with their whole heart as if they’re playing for their club, that’s what we want.
Your advice, sir, for the new NFF chairman…
I congratulate the new chairman. He’s a nice man. I wish him the best and I pray that God will give him more wisdom to look at the mistakes of the past and come up with the right steps by involving ex-internationals on the technical side so we can see what we can do together and move Nigeria’s football forward. I know that you guys were like a family back then, but who were your close pals back then?
Everybody, I tell you. We were all very close. For instance, I was told about this today, so I had to come down from my hotel. I am in town to do a few things. I was in the mainland but when I got the call and was told about what’s happening here, I had to come down just to see my guys and be part of it.
How much do you miss some of your guys that have left us today, like Rashidi Yekini and a few others?
I miss all of them, I tell you. I miss my skippo, Stephen Keshi, Thompson Oliha, Rashidi Yekini, Uche Okafor, we lived together in Dallas, he was one of my best friends, God knows the best and I know they are resting well.
