Flying Eagles were unbeaten at the Estadio Universiairo, Monterrey during the Mexico ’83 FIFA Under 20 Championships. It was their debut, the only loss was at Jalisco Stadium, Guadalajara, to eventual champions, Brazil.
Tajudeen Olusegun Disu relishes the barren draw with Holland in their last Group D game. In the first match, Tarila Okoronwanta shocked Russia with a lone goal that decided the outcome. Keeper Patrick Udoh bowed down in prayers to celebrate.
Disu, wearing jersey no.12, caged Dutch danger man, Marco Van Basten, all through the game. The Netherlands were good enough for the trophy but were edged out in the quarter finals, no thanks to questionable calls by the English referee in the 2-1 loss to Argentina.
The former Flying Eagle revealed his game plan to me in a recent chat. “You know, before our game with USSR, The Netherlands and Brazil played a 1-1 draw. I watched it on TV, mapped out my strategy against van Basten and it worked,” he said.
That game against Nigeria was the only one that the Dutch did not score until their controversial ouster by Argentina. After the 1-1 draw with Brazil, they defeated the Soviet Union 3-2 before falling to Argentina 2-1 in a match the losers scored first in the 4th minute.
Bolaji Okubule was one of the Assistant referees.
Disu’s first international outing fetched him the Gothia Cup in Sweden. He was part of the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) team sponsored by Chief Moshood Abiola. Also in that 1980 squad were Paul Okoku, Tarila Okoronwanta, Loveday Omoruyi, Bremner Allada, Kola Adebayo, Muyiwa Oguntolu, Gafar Ijaya, Saliu Isiaka and Patrick Udoh.
That Abiola connection opened doors. “I will never forget Chief Abiola till my last day. After Mexico’s 83, I joined Abiola Babes. I helped the club to four consecutive Challenge Cup finals, 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987. Then he rewarded me with scholarship to Alabama A and M University.”
The defender studied Agricultural Economics, invited two of his younger siblings over and settled down. “I relocated my family to the United States in 1990 and they are still there till date,” he added.
Disu is a grassroots man and has remained loyal to that constituency. He played for Bolaji Oni Babes, Lagos. His team lost 3-0 in the grand finale of the Ramat Cup to Enugu Black Rocks in 1989.
Bolaji Oni was star-studded. Chris Anigala, Segun and Femi Olukanni, Samson Siasia, Raymond King, Tarila, Okoku, all played.
Black Rocks boasted of Charles Okonkwo, Benedict Ugwu, Christian Obi, Ikechukwu Ofoje, Ben Okaro, Tony Nzekwe and Ejike Ekwueme.
In 2001, Disu was on the bench of Shell Nigeria Academicals in Accra against Ghana VALCO Academicals. The team.was.led by Joseph Ladipo. Admiral Augustus Aikhomu and Sports minister Ishaya Aku made the trip.
Disu is home and as Technical Director of the Lagos State Football Association, won Under 15, Boys and Girls gold at the last National Youth Games held in Asaba. He went into politics and served as Supervisory Councilor for Agriculture, Youth and Sports in Surulere Local Council.
He tries to keep politics out of soccer. “Since politicians took over, the game is no more the same. We have numerous problems affecting football but the most damaging is corruption. Our clubs can’t perform because the best teams don’t win anymore.
“It’s the highest bidder that wins the league, so when they represent Nigeria, they crash out in the first round. Referees decide who wins the league.”
For a man who comes from a family of footballers, this speaks volumes. His father played for Lagos Railways, the first team to win the FA Cup seven times. Elder brother, Tunde Disu, debuted for the Green Eagles, as a student in 1967, against Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire in Abidjan. Nigeria lost 2-0.
Taju’s senior team debut was on November 4, 1984. Green Eagles defeated Lone Star 1-0 in Monrovia, courtesy Clement Temile’s strike. Younger siblings, Hakeem and Wasiu played for Julius Berger and Flying Eagles before relocating to America.
Iliasu also played. Raheem was popular in Abeokuta when he featured for Gateway. This is a case of father and his six children taking active part in soccer and winning laurels.
Tunde Disu was at the USSR 1985 1989 FIFA Under 20 Championships as assistant to coach Paul Hamilton. The Flying Eagles won bronze. Christian Obi and Samson Siasia made that team. Coach Disu improved on that record when he took Flying Eagles to silver at the Saudi 1989 edition.
Christopher Udemezue led the Flying Eagles to Mexico. “Coach Udemezue was my best ever. He was a disciplinarian who treated players like his own children. He shaped our future, to a large extent,” Disu said.
Udemezue tried his best to manage Etim Esin, his star player, on the way to the Chile 1987 FIFA Under 20 Championships. The player broke camp, got shot by armed robbers but was still given presidential treatment. The team failed woefully. Today, Etim misses Udemezue.
