I am short but I do great things tall goalkeepers cannot do - Dami Paul
Although it may be said he has height disadvantage, junior international, Dami Paul says he does great things which most tall goalkeepers cannot do. In this exclusive interview with SHOT, the Nasarawa United goaltender said his next target is to play for the National U- 23 team at the 2016 Olympics.
Dseason? The concluded season was not easy especially for Nasarawa United which was newly promoted. However, it was an interesting experience for me. It was one of the best seasons I have ever experienced. Up to the last second on the final day of the league, nobody could say who was going on relegation or who would win the league. Despite the fact that I got injured along the way, I did my best for Nasarawa United. I thank God for the season and I thank God that we are still in the NPL.
Nasarawa started the season very well but managed to escape relegation on the last day. What went wrong with the team?
Actually we started good because we have quality players. We the players know where and when the problem of the team started but we have to keep it to ourselves. It was not from the players. It was more like political issues off the field. The problems were from the coaches and management. In the end, attempts were made to reposition the team but it was like too late to be back on course and that was how we continued to struggle.
As a former junior international, many people expect you should be playing for a bigger club. What informed your choice of Nasarawa united?
There are so many reasons a player may go to a club that may be considered small by other people. AMI Paul how would describe the 2012/ 2013 Nigeria Premier League Most times players like clubs that will give them playing time so that they will prove themselves. Sometimes environment determines where a player will like to stay. There are players who do not like pressure and there are some who do better under pressure. You see there are some players if you take them to a quiet environment, they won’t be able to give you result. Personally, I prefer where I can get challenges but it should be a good environment for me to play football without distractions from anybody. It is better to be in a small club than to be in a big club where nobody will be looking at you. You will always be on the bench. Moreover many coaches move with their players. As they move, they take such players along with them. They know who is good and who is not good. I went to Nasarawa United because of my relationship with my first coach, Bala Nyikyu. He is my first coach and he exposed me to football. He personally picked his phone and called me that he needed my services and there was no way I would turn him down. If I am writing my history today, he must be part of it. Although it was in a lower club, I had to go. My going to Nasrawa was to bring them back to the Premier League. And finally God answered my prayers. We brought the team back to premier which was our first
aim.
That was why I went to play for Nasarawa. It was not money. It was my personal relationship with their former coach.
Are you considering a third season with Nasarawa United or you intend to look elsewhere for greener pastures?
Actually, life itself is all about change. So many people are expecting me to leave but I have not decided if I will stay or not. But in a short time from now, I should decide whether to stay or leave the club. Before the season ended, I was telling my team mates that it is not all about playing for a big club but a chance to prove oneself. Playing for money is not the ultimate. I told them even if I play for a club in division 30, it is not anybody’s business. It’s about my happiness. There are great goalkeepers who are better than me but because of the environment they found themselves, they cannot be seen. A club can sign you as a great goalkeeper today but if the coach does not like your face, you can do nothing. I prefer to go to where I can be given a chance to show my talent so that tomorrow I will be invited to a bigger club.
How did you get into the junior national teams?
It was a kind of surprise to me. Honestly, I was called to the national team not because I played for a big club but it was because I was good. I was in an academy but big clubs were looking for me. Coach Bala Nyikyu saw me and invited me to come and be part of the Abuja amateur league. I never knew big coaches were watching me. I started like that but along the line I had injury that kept me out for like six weeks. I was at home trying to recover from the injury before I heard the call that I was invited to the national U- 17 team. I was kind of surprised
by the
I have to thank God for the opportunity he gave to me to represent my country. I took the opportunity with everything in have inside me. Honestly it was a great experience playing at the national team level. I will continue to appreciate God and the NFF for their support. It was a wonderful experience winning the Africa U- 20 Championship in South Africa. Nobody gave us a chance to bring the cup to Nigeria but with God on our side we did. I have to give thanks to God and the