‘I made the best decision joining El-Kanemi Warriors’
Former junior international, Mathias Samuel has said he made the best decision when he convinced his parents to allow him play for El-Kanemi Warriors football club. The former Kano Pillars and Gombe United star also explained to SHOT! how he is having a s
How did you start your football career? I started playing football when I joined Celtic football academy in Kaduna. At the same time I was training with an amateur club called Santos in Kakuri also in Kaduna. I would train in the academy in the morning and then go to train with Santos in the evening. In the academy all of us were age mates but in Santos I played against bigger and older players and that helped my game to develop faster. I learnt a lot from the senior players. Professionally, I started with Gombe United. I later played for Kano Pillars under Coach Baba Ganaru and we won the league title. From Pillars I went to Wikki Tourists of Bauchi and then returned to Gombe United. It was from Gombe United that I moved to my present club El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri.
How was your experience in the Flying Eagles camp under coaches John Obuh and Manu Garba?
It was not the best but I really thank God that out of millions of Nigerian youths I had several opportunities to be screened to represent my country. I was first invited to the Flying Eagles camp by John Obuh when I was playing for Gombe United. Unfortunately I could not make the team. When the same set of Flying Eagles returned from the Africa Championship in South Africa, Obuh again invited me to camp. I travelled with the team to the camp in Germany from where we went for the invitational tournament in France. I was part of the team but I did not make the final squad for the World Cup in Turkey. I took it in good fate and returned to Nigeria. I just felt my performance wasn’t good enough. And during the time of Manu Garba, I was still in and out of the Flying Eagles. In the end, I did not make the World Cup team. All I can say is that only the coach knows why I was dropped. In all, I refused to give up on my dreams. What would you say has kept you going? Just like I said earlier I have read and heard stories of great men. I learnt a lot from them. I know you must pass through failure to be a great man. So each time I went and was dropped, I didn’t feel too disappointed. I believed my time will come. I kept feeling that my time will come.
You joined El-Kanemi Warriors at the height of insurgency that scared many people away from the state. Was it an easy decision?
It was easy for me but not so easy on the part of my parents who wondered why of all places, I wanted to go to Maiduguri. My father asked me if I did not find any other club to play for in Nigeria. They were highly against it but I was able to convince them to let me go. I told them that our lives are in God’s hands. I told them that one day they would not be around so I have to be a man. I insisted I wanted to play for El-Kanemi Warriors. At that point they gave me their blessings and I left.
How was the reception when you arrived Maiduguri?
To be honest with you, I had never met with Coach Ladan Bosso. I never played under him before. However, immediately he watched me play, I could see that he had already fallen in love with my game. That made me to settle down quickly. He instantly made me feel I was in his plan for the season. We started the season in Katsina. However, after like four matches we returned to Maiduguri. At first, I struggled to adjust to the weather but after some time, I adapted. The weather was a bit harsh but I got used to it eventually.
So you have no single regret going to play for El-Kanemi Warriors....
No single regret. Honestly I cannot describe the kind of success I have found in Maiduguri. El-Kanemi Warriors FC is a blessing to me. I have achieved a lot in this place and the fans are simply fantastic. I keep getting offers from other clubs in the country but because of the amazing fans I have here, I find it difficult to leave. As a matter of fact, my decision to stay and play for El-Kanemi Warriors is one of the best decisions I have made in life.
What would you say is responsible for the impressive performance of El-kanemi Warriors this season?
I will say when you want to succeed, you must put yourself in the hands of God. Before the start of the season, we dedicated ourselves to God. We said to ourselves that clubs like Enyimba, Kano Pillars, Rivers United, Lobi Stars, Nasarawa United that are always doing well in the league have players like us. They are not more human than us. With such mentality, we prosecuted our matches differently this season. We have decided to make a name for ourselves and the people of Borno State. In addition, we have a seasoned coach, Ladan Bosso who knows his onions. He has been around for a long time. He knows the league like the back of his hand. With his support, we are playing with greater confidence. So we are now focused on winning the league title.
Would you say the away victory over Abia Warriors in the first round was the turning point for El-Kanemi Warriors?
Yes, I will say so because before we went for the match, Bosso who is a former coach of the club said if we can win the match for him, he would be the happiest person on earth. And we knew that it was going to be a live match so it would be difficult for the referees to do anyhow. We were determined to get something. And fortunately we made it and those three points took us to the second position then and where we are presently.
Most of your critics say the fear of Boko Haram by visiting clubs assists El-Kanemi Warriors in winning their home matches. What is your take on this?
Most clubs try to undermine our abilities by cooking up such funny stories. We proved them wrong by beating Abia Warriors in Umuahia. It was not in Maiduguri. What will they say about the clubs that came and forced us to draw?. Most times when clubs come, they do hide and seek because they were told not to lodge in certain hotels. Some people who want to extort money from them would tell them that El-kanemi Warriors have planted juju in some hotels. If they lodge in such hotels, they would be defeated. And they believe such cock and bull stories. I remember when Sunshine came to play us they avoided the hotel that was made available for them but in the end we beat them mercilessly. There is nothing in all these talks.
How much would you say El-Kanemi Warriors have contributed to the return of peace in Borno State?
You know what? Insurgents also watch football. They like to come and cheer their darling team. Football is a game of love. Sometimes two team mates may be quarrelling off the pitch but once they are on the field they bury their differences. When they score, they hug each other and that brings peace. So the return of El-Kanemi Warriors to Maiduguri has contributed tremendously to peace in the state.
Having been around for some time now, what is your assessment of the NPFL?
I must give kudos to the League Management Company. In terms of organisation, I must say they are trying. Referees are also improving very well. Three or four years back, it was difficult for a club to lose at home. However, many teams are winning away and draws are being recorded. I salute the LMC and urge them to keep up the good work so that in future more foreign players will come into the league. I am really impressed with what they are doing.
You are among the leading goal scorers. Have you set any target for yourself?
Just like I said before, if you have faith, you can do all things. Faith is the substance of something hoped for but not seen. I have faith that I can score more than 20 goals this season. Already I have scored 11 so I have at least nine left to make a round figure.
You came close to playing for Nigeria at two junior World Cups but you didn’t make it. What are your chances of playing for Super Eagles?
In this country the easiest way for you to be invited to the national team is to get a club abroad. I want to play for the Super Eagles but my target for now is to work harder and get an offer in Europe where I will continue with my career and also brighten my chances of playing for the Super eagles. Do you have any superstitious belief? I don’t have any. I am a practising Christian and like it is said is local parlance juju no get stamina. So I don’t believe in such things. I know that hard work pays and I work hard in everything I choose to do. I commit myself to God before, during and after every match.
If not El-Kanemi Warriors, which other club would you like to play for in the NPFL?
For now, I don’t think I am interested in any other club because I have to aim higher. If I move from El-kanemi Warriors to another club in Nigeria, it means I have not made any progress. So if I am leaving El-kanemi, I should be moving abroad to play professional football.