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Plateau United captain Daniel Itodo talks about his childhood, his 10-year stint at the Jos-based club, the club’s ouster from the CAF Champions League and the plight of NPFL players in the Super Eagles, in this interview with ABIODUN ADEWALE
Can you tell us about yourself, precisely, how you grew up and how your playing career started?
I grew up in a community where young boys always wanted to look for jobs to help themselves, but I wasn’t really interested in that. I spent most of my days on the local primary school field and that’s where the dream of wanting to play football began. I eventually started my career with Lucky Boys in Kaduna and then to Celtics Football Academy.
What are your fondest memories of football while growing up?
Growing up wasn’t easy. I’m not from a wealthy family that could support my career, but thanks to my mum, she made a lot of sacrifices to help me fulfill my dream. She ensured I went to trainings and matches; she bought boots and jerseys, against the general belief in the community, where nobody believed in you and saw you as wayward when you chose to play football.
You must have dreamt of playing football at a professional level. How is that coming true, starting with youth teams, before joining Plateau United?
I admire Nigerian clubs a lot. I remember the kind of feeling Enyimba gave me when they won the CAF Champions League in 2003. Plateau United came calling in 2013 and I didn’t hesitate despite the fact that they were playing in the lower division, and ever since, my dreams have been coming true. I’ve grown with Plateau United. The experience I’ve had from the city of Jos to the club has been wonderful. The love the people of the state have for me has also been immense. I have won the league with Plateau United, I got a national team call up for the home-based Eagles and represented Nigeria at CHAN 2018 and I’ve played in CAF competitions on three occasions now. It has been great because the love has been massive and every day on the pitch, I ensure that I give my best. Winning the league with Plateau United was special, because it was the first piece of achievement for me. I remember working so hard and I’m glad it’s something I can proudly put on my CV.
You’ve spent about 10 years at Plateau United, that is close to the status of a club legend. Aren’t you open to other moves within and outside Nigeria?
I’ve got offers from different Nigerian clubs, but I’ve settled in very well in Jos and the management has treated me right from day one. They’ve given me opportunities and whatever I ask for is usually given to me. So, I see no reason to jump from one club to the other. Also, the love I enjoy from the fans, the management makes me feel comfortable than I can be here for as long as I want.
How did you develop your long throw ability?
I believe my long throwing ability is an essential gift from God. I used it, my coaches saw it and developed it more. It’s an ability that has kept me here and even make most teams want me.
Your team had another good run last season, earning a CAF Champions League spot. Do you think Plateau could have won the title if you pushed harder earlier in the season?
We could have done it again last season, but coming behind Rivers United was another kind of experience. We pushed hard but they were harder and the decider was the game we lost to them in Port Harcourt. Since then, we took our legs off the pedal and cemented our second place.
On the continent, you played four exhilarating games against Stade Mandji and Esperance. How would you describe the experience, and how difficult was the game against the dreaded Esperance?
The first leg in Abuja against Esperance was a big game for us, because Esperance are a big team and so many people in Nigerian did not even give us the chance at home. So, that thought alone, put in some level of fear. And yes, in the game, we respected Esperance a lot and that caused us to concede first. When they scored, as the captain of the team, the only thing I said to the boys was that we could do it, ‘let us just pick up ourselves.’ At that moment, I felt we blocked every opinion we heard before the game and that was the turning point for us. We scored two goals to win the match, and we could have even scored more.
In the second leg, you guys almost got the job done but for one moment. What are your thoughts about the incident and the officiating?
For the second leg, we knew we were going for a difficult game against Esperance. Although we worked on every necessary area, taking into consideration the gimmicks and game plan, and we gave it our all on the pitch. But a single moment cut our dreams short. Nonetheless, I have to give my teammates, the coaches and other members of the backroom staff the credit for giving their best.
Even after conceding that penalty, was the will to try again still there?
After the penalty, we still had the strong feeling that we could do something, but at the same time, the referee awarding that kind of penalty with the time left on the clock limited the chances we could have explored.
Would your team have been able to make any difference if you played in Jos?
Assuming we played in Jos, there would have been a big difference, because we would be playing in front of our fans, and the crowd would have been massive. Playing against Esperance or any other team would have given us another edge. I feel we would have scored more and probably made a lot of difference in the return leg.
You still have another chance in the Confederation Cup, how hopeful are you?
With the spirit I’ve seen in the team, from the players to the backroom staff, I know that we will make the group stage of the Confederation Cup, of course, with the support of everyone.
A lot has been said about the poor performances of Nigerian clubs perform on the continent. What are your thoughts on how to overcome this challenge?
Everything that’s been said is on point. But if you want a Nigerian club to perform on the continent, you have to give them all the support. And maybe our administrators can also position themselves strategically in CAF. Believe me, the North Africans know how to spend and get what they want on the continent. You know about the dominance of their teams in Africa and we will need a lot more in terms of support to do more than them.
We don’t know when the next NPFL season will start, but how has your recent experiences shaped your preparation?
We don’t know when the new NPFL season will start. We can only hope, because we know it is important to start early. This helps teams that will be playing on the continent to be ready as well in terms of match fitness. The previous season was challenging and that is one of the factors that helped those of us on the continent, so far. So, imagine that our calendar was perfect. Starting and ending the season with great spirits gave us some confidence on the continent, but it would have been better if our calendar was perfect.
Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro was with Plateau United in Tunisia for the Esperance game. Aside confidence on playing Esperance, did he also boost you guys’ morale to play for the Super Eagles?
The Eagles coach was there with us in Tunisia, before the game, he talked to us and gave us every reason to believe in ourselves. He told us he believes in us and that’s inspiring. The chances of NPFL players playing in the Super Eagles depends on the coach and the (NFF) board. We have great players in the NPFL who only desire a chance to prove themselves in the national team. If NPFL players can get the level of chances the players born abroad get, we will give everything. We are just hoping that after going round different venues in the NPFL and even following us to CAF inter-club games, the coach and his assistants will give NPFL players the chance to represent the Super Eagles again.