Timothy Danladi: Katsina United will surprise unrepentant critics
IV Home-based Super Eagles and Katsina United dependable defender, Timothy Danladi has said the ‘Chaji Boys’ as Katsina United are popularly called will surprise many football fans by winning a continental ticket at the end of the season. He also spoke to
Would you say Katsina United’s performance in the first round of the ongoing NPFL season is satisfactory?
I thank God for the ongoing season. So far, everything has gone according to our plans. Personally, I am encouraged by what we have achieved so far. The chairman of the club, Alhaji Aminu Balele Kurfi is encouraging us and the players are united. Although we struggled to survive relegation last season, this year we are not going to face similar situation.
What would you say Katsina United are differently this season?
You know every coach has his own football philosophy and every coach has his own programme. The coach we had last season is different from the one who is coaching us now. Biffo is a young coach but he has a lot of experience. He has done a lot to change the team positively. Moreover, last season we had so many old players who struggled to cope with the rigours of the NPFL. At the moment, we have younger players who are hungry for glory. They are willing to give everything to succeed for themselves and the club.
How confident are you that Katsina United will pick a continental ticket at the league of the season?
Our present position on the table suggests that we are among the contenders for a continental ticket. However, we have a serious hurdle because we are a small club. I do not mean to undermine the contributions of referees to the success of the league but I must say here that some referees tend to favour bigger clubs. Going by this, it is very difficult to confidently say we would win a continental ticket at the end of the season. I want to cite an example using our last away match at Plateau United. I doubt very much if the referee provided a level playing field for the two teams. So it is going to be difficult but at the end of the season, we are going to surprise many people. We hope to win a continental ticket.
You made your international debut for Nigeria against Angola at the 2018 CHAN in Morocco. How happy were you?
First of all, I want to say thank God for the opportunity. Like you rightly said, that was my first appearance for the national team. Everything happened purely by the grace of God. He made it possible for me to be among the 23 players who represented Nigeria in the tournament. I thank God for his grace.
How confident were you when you were asked to take the place of Orji Kalu in the heart of the team’s defence?
Playing at that level is always a huge task but as a footballer you must be ready to play at any given time. I knew that one day I would be called upon to play. Although it was my first appearance for the national team, I was able to compose myself. So I was a bit tensed but I ensured I made the best use of the opportunity. I made contributed to the best of my abilities and I am sure Nigerians saw what I did.
Would you say the championship has impacted positively on your game?
I learnt a lot of things there. At the national level, everything is different, from feeding to training and matches. The coaches in the national team are among the best in the country and they improve our game in different ways. When I returned and joined my club, my team mates told me that my game had improved so much. I give the credit to the national team coaches.
Would you say your debut match for Nigeria is your most memorable moment in football?
That was my first match and it will remain the most memorable moment for me. It was my prayer to represent my country and God answered my prayers in a very big way. So for now, I can say that is my most memorable moment in football.
What would you say was responsible for the scandalous loss to Morocco in the final match?
It is always painful discussing that match but I can say a lot of things worked against us. However, what affected us the most was the unfriendly weather. We are not used to cold weather and it rained from the beginning to the end of the match. The field became so slippery such that we found it hard to play our normal game. So we did our best but there was nothing we could do.
How disappointed were you that you couldn’t win the CHAN trophy?
I was really disappointed that we didn’t win. I thought we were going to surprise Nigerians with the CHAN trophy. We struggled in some matches so only a few people gave us any chances of going that far. So it was our desire to lift the trophy and also win over our critics.
Are you hoping to make amends in future competitions?
I am waiting for more invitations to come. Having tasted football at that level, I am hungry for more. I believe that if I keep working hard, I will be part of the team again.
Who is your toughest opponent in the NPFL?
As a defender, I keep coming up against tough opponents but I must say I always found Godwin Obaje of FC IfeanyiUbah very tough to handle. And there is this striker in Niger Tornadoes, Ebenezer. He is also a tough opponent.
What is your best match in the ongoing season?
My best match will be the match against Heartland at home. We defeated them convincingly and I played very well. I will also say our away match against Lobi Stars was another good match for me.
What is your most painful defeat this season?
I won’t hesitate to say the last match we lost against Plateau United was really painful. We didn’t deserve to lose the match. We deserved to win or at least get a draw.
How did you start your football career?
I started in Tijani Babangida Academy in Taraba State. I got my first international exposure when he took us on a tour of Czech Republic and Dubai. When we returned, I was registered in FC Taraba when they were still in the NPFL. At the same time, I was invited to the Flying Eagles during the time of Coach Manu Garba. When FC Tarab were relegated, I left to join Katsina United in 2013. I am among the players who returned Katsina United to the NPFL.
Who is your role model in football?
You know I am a rugged defender so my role model is Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid. I like his fighting spirit and the way he handles attackers. I am also a fan of Barcelona so I admire Pique. He is also a fantastic defender.
In what ways have you benefitted from football?
I have benefitted immensely from football. Football has taken me outside Nigeria. The sport has brought me so many friends across Nigeria. In addition, football has exposed me to good things of life. It may interest you to know that I have made some investments that I believe can sustain me reasonably even if I leave football now. I have been supporting my family as well. Indeed, football has done so much for me.
How was your life before you became a professional footballer?
To be honest it wasn’t easy. I lost my father in 2005 so things became really difficult for me. However, as a strong man, I had to fend for myself. After my secondary education, I joined my friends to work as a mason. So apart from football, I am also a builder. I worked as a mason to sponsor myself when I went back to school for my National Diploma.