15th February, 2013
Dosu Joseph was the goalkeeper of Nigeria’s gold medal winning team in the football event of the Olympic Games in 1996 in Atlanta, U.S.A. He remains till now the only man to ever stand between the posts on a day a Nigerian team defeated Brazil at any major international football contest. A former Julius Berger of Lagos Football Club player, Dosu played in Italy for Regianna. In this interview with OLUSOJI OLUKAYODE, the former Nigerian international, who now owns a football academy in Lagos speaks about his playing days.
What memories can you recollect seeing young players on the field of play today?
Representing Nigeria at the Olympics is a memory that will linger in my mind and those of all the players of that great team that went to the Olympics in 1996.Because after the Olympics, I don’t think Nigeria has won any competition at a global stage like the gold medal of the Olympics we won then. Nevertheless, all these young boys that are playing today, I think they are also trying to improve their talent and thank Goodness, they will get there someday.
You played for Julius Berger and then went to Regianna in Italy. How did you secured the deal at Regianna and what did that move mean to you?
Well, I was playing for Julius Berger as you said and I think I did so well in the Nigerian League. I had a friend in Sunday Oliseh, we grew up together and became friends and his brother, Churchill Oliseh, was the one managing me. He came one day and said ‘an Italian club needs a goalkeeper’. He processed the deal and I had a trial with the club which went well. After Regianna, I had my predicament. All is history now. I think I did my best as a footballer. I think my name has been written in gold, not in silver and not in bronze. In the Nigerian League, I won the league, won the FA Cup, played in the Sekou Toure Cup now called the CAF Champions League, played in the African Cup Winners’ Cup. I have played in all competitions apart from the World Cup. I only played in the World Cup qualifier before my predicament. I must say that the little time I played football I enjoyed it.
What was memorable experience while you were in Italy?
I’ll tell you the truth because I was the only Nigerian goalkeeper that ever played in Italy and since I left the league, no other Nigerian goalkeeper has played in the Serie A. The likes of Taye Taiwo, Taribo West, Sunday Oliseh, Kanu Nwankwo and the rest came to Italy as players. I’m praying that one day, Nigeria will have a goalkeeper in the Italian league. But my case as I said, I didn’t play so long because of my accident but then the little time I played I think I enjoyed it. I played among the best goalkeepers such as Gianluigi Buffon. It was a memorable career for me as I said earlier and without taking anything back, I really enjoyed it.
Looking back at the last friendly match on home soil before the Atlanta Olympics feat, the game against Togo at the National Stadium in Lagos, Nigeria lost that match. What was on your mind when you were going to the Olympics with a home loss to Togo?
We did so well during the qualifiers and all the friendly matches we played. We played well and we won. But Togo were the last game we played before we travelled out of the country. Togo defeated us 2-0. That really angered the fans and the Sports Minister then, Jim Nwobodo and we had late Emeka Omeruah as the FA chairman. They said we should not travel out of the country like that with the fans still angry. They said we must play another friendly game before we travel. A game was organised against 3SC of Ibadan. I must confess at this point that it was that the 3SC match brought me into the limelight. I was called to man the post. The Sports Minister, Jim Nwobodo called me and said ‘are you the one keeping’. I replied him that ‘yes’. He told me ‘okay, go there and do your best. The late Emeka Omeruah who was beside us sang a song, sayin ‘last night DJ saved my life, last night DJ saved my life, go in there and save the U-23’. I think since that match I never looked back. We had a great game with 3SC which we won 1-0. This restored the confidence Nigerians had in us. From there we went for the camping to prepare for the Olympics in U.S.A
I want you to tell us about your most memorable moment in football. I remember after Nigeria won the semi final match in the football event of the Olympics against Brazil, you were weeping, crying for joy and Nigeria went ahead to beat Argentina to clinch the gold medal of the event. Which of the matches remains your most unforgettable in your career?
The most unforgettable moment should be the game Nigeria played against Hungary. You may be surprised and Nigerians may be surprised. Hungary tie was the first game at the Olympics. When we were having the pre match pep talk for that game, Bonfere Jo was releasing the names of the 11 players that will play. After releasing the names of the 10 players, he refused to mention the 11th which is the goalkeeper. So everybody was asking, coach you haven’t mentioned the goalkeeper, he said ‘yes don’t worry, I will mention the goalkeeper among the four reserves we have here’. So every player left and the three goalkeepers were in the dressing room and he said: ‘Dosu Joseph will be in goal’. Once he mentioned that name, I said ‘God, if truly you gave me the talent this is the time for me to tell the whole world that I am good to represent my country’. I thank God we won 1-0 and since then it has been success all the way for me.
What hopes and dreams do you have now?
Well, I want to leave a legacy behind even if I’m no more living. Let my name be remembered. I think after football I have done so well by trying to impart knowledge of the game in some of these young boys for them to succeed in their career. Since I’ve started this academy which I call Westerlo Football Academy sponsored by KVC Westerlo Football Club in Belgium, I think we’ve done so well. We’ve sent a lot of players abroad, while some are playing in the Nigerian league. At times these players don’t call me Dosu Joseph or MON, some call me kingmaker. The academy has really produced players, not just for the league but also for the national team, the Super Eagles, the U-23, U-20 and U-17. The players are all doing very well in their respective clubs in Europe.
Which of your colleagues readily come to mind?
I have a lot of them, who among them will I even mention. I think I can’t forget any of them. We speak on phone regularly. Some that I have not spoken with, anytime we see it’s like we always remember the good old days. But if I have to mention, I think the likes of Ike Shorunmu, Emmanuel Amuneke, Mutiu Adepoju, Sunday Oliseh, Taribo West, Daniel Amokachi the Bull, Victor Ikpeba readily come to my mind. I can’t really forget any of them.
Do you have any message for Nigerians?
I love Nigeria but it is unfortunate how the country is being governed by our leaders. They should all look back and put the country where it belongs. We don’t want death, all we want is just to keep living and understand one another. Let them look at the masses and give them what they want. The masses are struggling, I’m part of them, let them move this country forward. We want to be happy. We need a lot of things. We need electricity, good roads and many other good things of life which the government must provide for its citizens. This is a lovely and peaceful country, let’s live in harmony and enjoy.