He played soccer, bagged a chain of degrees, delved into administration before retiring to Sports management. Dr. Steve Olarinoye left a golden mark in the course of service to Nigeria, his son, Dr. Deji Olarinoye, took after the father.
When the Dream Team won Africa’s first Olympic soccer medal at Atlanta ’96, Steve was the Administrative Secretary. Four years earlier, Sola Akinwale, a player he groomed from cradle, won the first CAF Cup with Shooting Stars in 1992.
Deji was Team Doctor of the Golden Eaglets, winners of the 2013 FIFA Under 17 Championships in the United Arab Emirates. He continued in that role when the the Eaglets won again in Chile, for a record fifth time, with as many records.
The Dream Team were hopeless when they left Nigeria for the Olympics in 1996. In their last tune – up before departure, Togo humiliated them 3-1 in Lagos. All eyes were on Brazil, tutored by grand oldie, Mario Zagalo, to give the Samba masters a first soccer gold.
The Brazilians laughed first and laughed until the tide turned. Nwankwo Kanu became an instant Pele when he literally turned water into wine. It was a miracle, a sad day for folks in Sao Paolo and Brasilia. Argentina came, they surrendered in the grand finale.
Sola Akinwale watched his boss on TV as gold was achieved in the United States. Olarinoye was his Games Master at Baptist Primary School, Kano. When Shooting Stars won the maiden CAF Cup after defeating Nakivubo Villa of Uganda, his teacher was part of the Nigeria Football Federation.
The younger Aderinoye loved soccer as much as his father. As a young medical doctor, the Eaglets were free with him. In 2013, the boys won Nigeria’s fourth FIFA Under 17 Championships title. It was grand. For the first time, a team scored 26 goals.
Kelechi Iheanacho received the Golden Boot as the Most Valuable Player. Dele Alampasu was voted Goalkeeper of the Tournament. The Eaglets won the Fair Play Trophy. It is remarkable that Iheanacho and another member of the team, Taiwo Awoniyi, graduated to the Super Eagles team.
Golden Eaglets retained the trophy in 2015. Deji Olarinoye was there. And there were more golden moments. Kelechi Nwakali became Golden Ball winner. Victor Osimhen settled for the Golden Boot. Samuel Chukwueze got the Bronze Boot.
For the very first time in a FIFA organised competition, a Nigerian scored in all the stages. Osimhen was lethal. In the group games, he hit one against the United States, got a brace against Chile, scored the only goal in the 2-1 loss to Croatia.
In the Round of 16, Osimhen continued dancing. His hat – trick tricked Australia. One goal against Brazil in the quarter finals, one against Mexico in the semis and one more in the grand finale against Mali, meant the Eaglet scored 10 goals.
Dr. Steve Olarinoye touched gold as a school boy. Government Secondary School, Ilorin, his team, defeated Bishop Smith College, 3-1 in the final of the 1973 Kwara State Governor’s Cup. One member of that squad, Frank Omenka, later joined the Army and rose to the rank of colonel.
Other team mates included Victor Aniago ( he died as an Air Force One – Star general), goalkeeper Bola Azeez, Frank Odiachi, skipper Sally Joe, Bisi Afolabi, Tajudeen Azeez and his brother, Taofeek ( No Good).
Dr. Olarinoye keeps records. I had written in one of my reports that Adokiye Amiesimaka and Felix Owolabi were in the University of Lagos squad that won the Nigerian Universities Games Association ( NUGA) soccer gold in 1978.
“No, Owolabi was not in the 1978 team. He played in 1980 when the University of Benin hosted. I am sure of this because I featured for Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria. We lost 1-0 to Adokiye’s Unilag at the National Stadium, Surulere,” he corrected me.
With a PhD in Sports Management, Olarinoye has seen it all. He was at various times Secretary of Federations like Boxing, Wrestling, Football and Weightlifting where he remains an international official.
Olarinoye has been to more than a dozen Games as an accompanying official or umpire. From USA ‘ 94 World Cup, to Sydney 2000 Olympics, London 2012 Olympics, Commonwealth Games in Manchester, Delhi and All Africa Games in Abuja, Nairobi, Harare, Johannesburg, Algiers and Brazzaville, he was on duty.
Married to Lola, a retired Director of Schools in Lagos, all their five children live in the UK. I asked why he allowed everyone to “japa” including the Eaglets doctor. “They are adults and independent. I cannot choose for them because I can’t pay their wages,” he joked.
Akinwale, the Shooting Star, called from the US. “Dr. Olarinoye was my teacher in Kano in the early 1970s. He was, infact, the one who encouraged me to play football after discovering that I was talented. He also played for Kano clubs, NEPA and Leventis.
“If I describe him as an approachable, easy – going and sweet person, it won’t be enough. He has really touched lives. And we all could see that when he was in the Sports ministry,” Akinwale said.