What a reunion it was for Kola Adebayo and Kayode Ojo, two cousins who did not know each other until soccer brought them face to face. It was not a pleasant story.
Their mothers, Taiwo and Kehinde lived, apart. Adebayo was sent to his aunt’s house in Ibadan by her twin sister. He decided to do that after a game between his school, Federal College of Education, Abeokuta and St. Andrew’s College Oyo.
That match continues to haunt Adebayo who won the Gothia Cup, Sweden in 1980 with Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria ( YSFON ) and later played for and coached Stationery Stores. He found it difficult to tell me the story. When he eventually did, I understood the trauma.
The Abeokuta team hired Coach Ibikunle of Abiola Babes. Adebayo was instructed to cage the St. Andrew’s left winger but he could not. The opponent was too swift and hot to handle.
Listen to his take: “I tried all I could, that task was so difficult. So I resorted to rough tactics and put him out of the game. He was rushed to the Sick Bay and I got a deserved red card.”
At the end of the clash, Adebayo rushed to his aunt’s house. As they sat chatting cheerfully, behold, the battered player was brought back to the same house, with stitches all over the left eye.
Ojo could not believe his eyes when he saw his mother with the man who almost knocked him dead. Adebayo was shocked as well. It dawned on the two players that they were blood relations, cousins. A bloody day, it was but a remarkable introduction.
“That encounter changed my attitude completely. Honestly, I didn’t want to play because I was the Students Union Sports Secretary. I learned my lessons. As a coach, I would not detail my player to mark out an opponent,” he said.
Adebayo went into coaching after playing for Seven Planners, NNPC, Mandilas Lions, Police Machine and Stores, all in Lagos before moving to Abeokuta to join Concord and later Housing Corporation.
He began as Assistant Coach to Abdullahi Bebe at Stationery Stores. The Adebajo Babes had a solid squad in 1993 and began comfortably, defeating Tout Pussiant USCA of Central African Republic, home and away, in the first round of the CAF Champions League.
Stores knocked out defending champions, WAC. A 3-1 loss in Casablanca was cancelled in Lagos with a 4-1 advantage. Congolese referee, Gustave Mbama sent out Abdu Sule. That was a WAC team that had Nouredinne Naybet, Rachid Daoudi and Ramsy Fakradinne.
The Nigerians swept past AS Sogara, Gabon in the quarter finals but were eliminated by Zamalek in the semis. The Egyptians came with enterprising left winger, Emmanuel Amuneke and advanced to win the trophy for keeps.
Adebayo still feels the pain of that Zamalek defeat. “Even now, I believe that the NFF contributed to it. If they had engaged sufficiently in CAF politics, Stores could have qualified for the finals,” he told me.
Super Stores were in killer mood. Ezekiel Alamu scored four goals. So did Wasiu Ipaye. They were beaten to the top position by Ayman Mansour of Zamalek with five. Amuneke bagged two goals.
Alamu and the Ghanaian trio of Arthur Moses, Steve Botchway and Kwesi Bonsu blended effectively with Akeem Ogunlade, Taiwo Oloyede, Sanusi Yusuf, Teslim Fetusi, Abiodun Obafemi, Julius Akpele and Edward Okoyomon. Skipper was Ike Shorunmu, reserve keeper, Leye Akinde was equally active with defender, Ganiyu Ajide.
Adebayo was part of the St. Gregory’s College team that won the Lagos State Principal’s Cup in 1980 after beating CMS Grammar School, Bariga 1-0 in the final.
Greg’s had players who also played for clubs. Tarila Okoronwanta and Richard Gbontir featured for Stores. Dan Allotey and Segun Adebayo were with NEPA, Sam Owoh belonged to ACB, Mensah teamed up with National Bank. Others were Joachim Aronu (Gorimapa), Muyiwa Oguntolu, keeper Jimoh and Mensah.
Adebayo began with Lagos Model College whose coach, Tony Eke, was Secretary of YSFON. That was how the student made it to Sweden. His YSFON contemporaries were Paul Okoku, Taju Disu, captain Muyiwa Oguntolu, Loveday Omoruyi, Gafar Ijaya, Saliu Isiaka, Patrick Udoh and Samson Siasia. After the Gothia Cup, he crossed over to St. Greg’s.
His earliest touch with the ball was with Seven Planners. They practiced at the Igbobi Orthopaedic Hospital field. Muda Lawal belonged to the senior team of Seven Planners. Stephen Keshi and Okoku were also Planners. An uncle, Hamed Omotosho, who won the Principal’s Cup in 1970 playing with Haruna Ilerika for Zumratul College, was a major influence.
As coach, Adebayo won the West African Polytechnic Games West African Polytechnic Games Association ( WAPOGA ) soccer gold with Yaba College of Technology in 2007. The Lagosians defeated Ibadan Polytechnic under ‘Super Throw’ Moses Otolorin in the final.
Adebayo also managed Mobil Pegasus, Offa United, Sharks and Stores. He ventured outside when veteran sportswriter, Segun Adenuga, took him to one coach Sese in Benin Republic. A meeting was arranged with the proprietor of Tofa, Monsieur Agbontan. The Nigeria went continental with the club.
He flew beyond Africa to the United Arab Emirates, moving from Fujirah Dubai to Khofakhan. The coach headed back to Africa to join Bloemfontein Celtic of South Africa. He holds a degree in Physical Education from the Olabisi Onabanjo University, CAF B Licence as well as A Licence from South Africa and Higher Diploma from the Nigeria Institute of Sports.
