I’m dreaded by big and tough looking opponents in NPFL
Mamuda Isah:
Adamawa United attacking midfielder, Mamuda Isah is among the smallest players in the Nigeria Professional Football League, yet he considers himself as one of the most dreaded players in the league. In this interview with Trust Sports, the former Jigawa Golden Stars and Kano Pillars player said he is inspired by gifted players like Lionel Messi, LukasModric andAndres Iniesta who have ruled the world of football despite their small stature.
HI joined Adamawa United at the beginning of this season. After I left Jigawa Golden Stars, I was playing for a National League side in Kano, FC Jordan. I played there for two seasons before I was invited to come over to Adamawa United.
I joined Adamawa United at the beginning of this season. After I left Jigawa Golden Stars, I was playing for a National League side in Kano, FC Jordan. I played there for two seasons before I was invited to come over to Adamawa United.
How satisfied are you with the performance of Adamawa United in the ongoing season?
It is not very satisfying but I thank God for everything. We are all doing our best to get better results. Nobody in the club is resting. It is a collective task. We have resolved to move Adamawa United out of relegation zone. I believe that if we continue to work hard, we would achieve this.
You sound confident but many people are of the opinion that Adamawa United won’t escape relegation...
That is their opinion but what I know for sure is that Adamawa United will survive the relegation fight. Moreover, it is too early to begin to talk about relegation. This is just the first stanza of the league. There is second round to be played.
Would you say Adamawa United are enjoying the necessary support from the state government?
Adamawa State government is doing its best to motivate us. We appreciate every support given to us. However, we would appreciate if more is done to motivate us. Playing in the NPFL is capital intensive. A lot of things are involved. I believe if we are adequately motivated, we would keep Adamawa United in the topflight..
How many matches have you played so far for Adamawa United?
I have played four matches in the NPFL. I am not very satisfied but I know for sure that I will get more opportunities in future. I try to make the best use of any opportunity that is given to me. I am a very patient man.
You have been around for a long time now. What has kept you going?
It has to do with self discipline and commitment. I am a professional football player so I know what is expected of me. Football is my career so I don’t toy with it. I know that if I indulge in reckless life, I would have myself to blame.
Without any doubt, you are one of the smallest players in the NPFL. Don’t you get bullied by bigger players?
Nobody bullies me on the field of play. Instead I bully those who underestimate my strength. I am neither the tallest nor biggest player around but I know my way. Football is more about intelligence. You may be big but if you lack the necessary skills and intelligence, you will be a ‘big for nothing’ player. Honestly, most of the big and tall defenders in the league are afraid of me. They find it hard to mark me. I do what Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Lucas Moderic do to bigger opponents. These players inspire me a lot.
What would you say is your best match so far for Adamawa United in the NPFL?
The match I played against Lobi Stars is my best. I came on in the second half and did very well. We didn’t deserve to lose the match but Lobi Stars were lucky run away with 1-0 victory. In fact we scored two goals but the referee disallowed all.
Is there any victory that brought you so much joy?
Yes, I was very happy when we defeated Katsina United 4-0. For now, I think that is our best performance. We outplayed our opponents in all
departments of the game.
What is the most painful defeat you have suffered this
season?
I will say our loss to Rivers United. They defeated us 2-0 in our home. We played fantastic football but in the end, we didn’t get anything to show for our efforts. In fact we have been unlucky in most of our matches.
Apart from your present club, which other team in the NPFL would you like to play for?
I like Rivers United and my darling team Kano Pillars. I hail from Kano State so I am a diehard fan of the club. As a matter of fact, I played two seasons in Kano Pillars. Unfortunately, many people didn’t notice my presence. I featured mostly in friendly matches. I will be happy to return to Kano Pillars.
You must have felt frustrated and disappointed when you didn’t get the chance to play prominently in Kano Pillars?
Well, I won’t say I wasn’t disappointed but it will be wrong to say I was frustrated. I know that life is full of challenges. There are always obstacles to success. I know what I have inside me so I don’t allow anything to weigh me down. I have faced a lot of challenges in my career but I have refused to give up. My ambition is to play football for as long as possible and also play for the home-based Super Eagles.
What informed your choice of football as a career and what are the clubs you have played for in Nigerian league?
I have deep passion for football. I started playing right from when I was very small. Due to my size, bigger boys tried to bully me but I refused to be intimidated. I started my professional career in Buffaloes FC kano in 2006. After a year and half in Buffaloes, I joined Jigawa Golden Stars where I spent seven years. In 2015, I joined Kano Pillars where I played for two seasons. From Pillars I moved to FC Jordan a National League side. I joined them in the amateur league and helped them gain promotion to the NNL. It was from FC Jordan that I joined Adamawa United.