The moment we were introduced, my eyes unconsciously settled
on his head. perhaps because he was popularly known as the headmaster during
his heydays on the soccer pitch. In this interview, the former Super Eagles
player revealed the other side of his persona.He never headed a school before but he knew how to use his head (literally and otherwise) to score goals that left his counterparts in awe. This fetched him the unique nickname, ‘headmaster’. Nigeria’s ex-international Mutiu Adepoju is one of the best players the country has ever produced. His performance at the FIFA 1989 World Youth Championship in Saudi Arabia seemed to have earned him a place in the football hall of fame. Now living in retirement, Adepoju, however, misses those days etched in evergreen memories when he was active on the field.
Leaving Nigeria in the late 80s after playing with the U20
team in Saudi 1989, Adepoju became one of the most sought out players in the
team. Little wonder he left the shores of Nigeria to play in the Spanish team
real Madrid, even if he didn’t make it to the B side. After much weal and woes, Adepoju finally
returned home in 2006 to manage his former club, Shooting Stars FC till late
last year when he resigned.
Early Life
Recalling how he became a footballer, the headmaster didn’t mince
words when he said “I’ve always known I wanted to be a football player.” Growing
up in Ibadan under the tutelage of his father, Adesola Adepoju, who was also a football
player(though he never played outside the confines of his community), and his uncle, Bayo Adepoju, who was also a
player in the Shooting Stars back then, it was certain that he was heading
towards his dream career. Bitten by an apparent bug that was imminent in his family,
it did not take much time to hone his skills. He quickly learnt the ropes and
joined his first team in Ibadan, Shooting Stars FC. But his family was not the
only push he needed to expose the ingrained talent in him. “Pele and Segun Odegbami
were my role models back then. Watching them play inspired me.”
From Coconut Head to
The Headmaster
Adepoju did not just develop a knack for connecting his head
to the ball in the national team; his ability to wreck opposing teams with his
calculating head goes back to his days in secondary school. Even back then he
was known for using his head to score goals. This quickly fetched him the
nickname ‘coconut head’ among his peers. Whether the nickname described his
shape of head or explained his heady scoring tactics, he bluntly refused to
comment. The only reason he could deduce was his ability to jump very high (and
of course connect his head to the ball).
“Back then in secondary school, my mates were always scared
to use their head to drive the ball into the goal post. I, on the other hand was
very eager to use my head. It was a very
big advantage to me because I could jump so high. I jumped higher than my mates
who were taller.”
Here is Mutiu’s hat-trick-a good header must be able to jump
high and be very calculating to know the exact time of the flight of the ball
and to make a direct contact. The winning edge comes from twisting the head to the
aimed goal post. This tactic has transcended the field of play and become a
ticket that he applies to everything he does. It explains why he is always
focused on whatever he does.
Family life
While still playing for shooting stars, the love bug bit the
headmaster and he fell in love with his sweetheart Bimpe whom he met through a
friend in 1989. Though they didn’t meet in the classroom, the fashion designer
and cosmetologist waited for the headmaster for three years before they finally
tied the knot in 1992. Happily married
with four daughters, Adepoju makes it a point of duty to keep his family happy
all the time. “It was difficult at times for me and my family back then because
I had to travel out of the continent to play. At such times, I would be away
for a period of two months or more, but when I’m home, I’m home. I do all I can
to ensure that my fatherly and husband presence is felt.”
Obviously there’s no dilly dallying on how focused the headmaster
is in his home just as he was on the field. Wondering if any of his daughters
would venture into football, Mutiu revealed that they play basketball instead
and he encourages them as any loving dad would do. He probably transferred his jumping skills to
his daughters. Raising a family in Spain, Adepoju was a bit worried about his children
missing out in their cultural heritage, thus he ensured that they visit Nigeria
as often as possible to learn their mother’s tongue.
I don’t take alcohol
Keeping with the dictates of his religion, Adepoju admitted
that he doesn’t take alcohol. Besides he had a bad experience with booze. He narrated his first ordeal this way-
“The first time I had
alcohol was back in secondary school. As boys who were eager to explore life, I
took alcohol but after that, I puked. I didn’t like the taste. And because of
my upbringing, we abhor alcohol in my home; I decided to stay away from it.
Most times in the club, my friends usually query me for being a teetotaller,
they wondered if I still wanted to go back to the field. I just don’t like it.”
Even if he doesn’t love the taste of beer and spirits, he seldom
takes red wine and champagne.
Contrary to his stern look, the retired Nigerian footballer
loves to keep it simple and classy in his jeans and shirts/t-shirts. As a
husband to a fashion designer, one would expect him to sample different attires
but this is not the case. “I love wearing jeans and shirts. It gives me a
simple but classy look. I wear suits sometimes but the jeans and t-shirts are
my favourites.”
Despite his long stay in Spain, the Ibadan in him has not
been erased completely. Delightfully, he disclosed that his favorite meal any
time, any day is ‘amala and ewedu soup’. But can he prepare it? he proudly nodded
in the affirmative.
Football Any time, Any day
Though he roused some wagging tongues when he featured in
Yomi Fabiyi’s movie ‘Ona Abayo’ (Way Out)
as a guest artiste last year, the headmaster said that he has no other passion
but football. After resigning from the Shooting Stars FC as club manager late
last year, it’s no surprise that the international footballer refused to let
the cat out of the bag on his next move but he certainly assured that his life
revolves around football. He spoke so passionately about his lovely moments in
his active years as a footballer. Probably the most reveling for him was his
brace against USA’s goalkeeper Kasey Keller who was then the best goalkeeper in
the world. This victory placed Nigeria in the finals against Portugal in the
FIFA World Youth Championship in 1989. Besides football, he is an ardent lover
of Nigeria music.
Winning the world cup
There was no denying the passion in his voice that he would
like to see Nigeria win the world cup but this he said would require
consistency and planning. “We need consistency and planning if we are to win
the World Cup. Not just planning on a short term basis but long term. Spain had
never won the World Cup but they started what they are gaining today 10 or 15
years ago. We need facilities all over the country to help groom these players properly.
We have to be visionary in our planning.”
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