A former Super Eagles attacking midfielder, Dondo Avaa has said his exclusion from the squad to the 1998 FIFA World Cup in
In this interview with
Looking back, how did your professional career start?
I started my football career in junior
It was a dream come true for me. Being a Gboko boy, it was my dream to play for BCC Lions. At that time, BCC Lions was one of the most popular and formidable clubs in the
How did you get into the star-studded Super Eagles of the 90s even as you were still a home-based player?
I was spotted by coach Bora when he came to watch the league match between Jasper United and Sharks. I performed exceptionally well in that match and the coach noticed me. He again watched me play against Enyimba in Aba and he was satisfied. After the Enyimba game, he invited me to the Super Eagles camp.
How excited when you learnt of your invitation to the Super Eagles?
Honestly, I couldn't sleep that night. It was another dream come true for me. You know that every talented player's dream is to represent his country. And in
Weren't you intimidated by the array of stars in the camp of the Super Eagles?
No, I wasn't. Immediately after my first training in the Super Eagles, the late
What did wearing the famous number 10 jersey in super Eagles mean to you?
The number 10 jersey is considered so special that it comes with so much pressure and high expectations. Anyone who wears it is supposed to be an exceptional player. Anytime Okocha wasn't coming to play, I was handed the jersey. So I am happy that I didn't disappoint anyone. Again, it was another dream come true for me because it was what I dreamt of as a child.
With your talent, you didn't last long in the Super Eagles. Why?
Playing for the Super Eagles takes more than just talent. Even if you are talented, you need a godfather or a powerful agent to fight for you. Your talent can take you there but if you don't have anyone to fight for you, it will be hard for you to last long. In my case, I didn't have anyone to defend me. I was a local player so there was no money to make things happen. Most times, top football federation officials and agents decide players' fate in the team.
How disappointed were you when you missed out of the
Almost everybody knew I was making the final list but at the last minute, NFA officials said they didn't want to gamble with any home-based player. They said I lacked the experience to play in the World Cup. Bora insisted on taking me but the pressure on him was huge. Since I didn't have anyone to support me, I was dropped from the team. It is indeed the biggest disappointment in my career. They killed my spirit with that decision. I didn't recover fully from that disappointment. Although, I moved on to play professional football in
It is said you didn't last long in the Super Eagles and football in general because you lacked discipline…
People are entitled to their opinions about me but the truth is that I was disciplined and passionate about football. However, I suffered so many injuries which eventually forced me out of the game. I had a nagging knee injury and after some time, I had a fracture. So it was not indiscipline that ended my career.
What is your assessment of the present Super Eagles?
Honestly, boys are now playing for the Super Eagles. In my time, real men represented the country. They were giants on the field of play. Talk of the gangling
Having retired from football, what do you do for a living now?
I am still passionate about the game. I am like a football agent. I scout for several foreign clubs. When I identify talented players in
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