Mutiu Adepoju was a big part of the golden generation of Nigeria football, he played a pivotal role for the Super Eagles of Nigeria as he was part of the 1994 set that won the Nations Cup for the very first time on away soil (Tunisia 94) he also made history as being part of the team that qualified Nigeria for FIFA World Cup for the first time (USA ‘94).
What have you been doing since your exit from Super Eagles of Nigeria?
Well it has been a while since I left the Super Eagles of Nigeria, I played my last match in 2002, while I retired from football finally in 2005.As you know I played club football in Spain, so as soon as I retired I left for Spain where my family are based, at a point I was scouting for club sides in Spain, later I went for coaching and football administration certificate course. In 2008 I was called upon to tutor Shooting Stars of Ibadan, the club was in lower division then so I took them from there to the elite division and they were there till I left shooting stars in 2012. In 2013 I organized a competition known as Lagos international football tournament, while in 2014 I was made the manager of Kwara football Academy that is what I have been involved in till March 2016 when the contract expired.
Many of your colleagues have now gone into coaching, the likes of Oliseh,Siasia and Stephen Keshi of Blessed memory?
Actually I have a coaching certificate as I have said earlier on ,maybe you want to say I haven’t handled a national team side, but I have done coaching with a club side in top flight., the difference between me and these people you mentioned is that they have handled a national team-side on few occasion while I haven’t but have got a coaching license a UEFA pro which happens to be the biggest coaching certificate in the world
You seemed to score many goals with your head during your hey days, was that what earned you the nickname‘’ the headmaster”?
yes , I was nicknamed the headmaster by Mumini Alao of complete sports, even while in school I was referred to as coconut head because of the way and manner I put my head into use during a football game. I feel proud of it because when people give you name it is because you have done well in what you do. I retired from national team assignment in 2002 and people still recognize me by virtue of what I have done while playing for this country.
You played virtually all your life for Spanish club sides, why did you stay put in spain?
Yes I didn’t play in Italy, England or France, the reason isn’t farfetched ,I settled quickly in Spain, I got used to their lifestyle, I was able to acclimatize, my staying put in Spain made me get the Spanish citizenship maybe if I was moving around that wouldn’t have been possible , besides my family also settled quickly there .
Does it mean all your children including your wife live in Spain?
Yes they live there even up till this moment, they are also Spanish citizens they hold dual citizenship, what this means is that allegiance is being given to both Spain and Nigeria.
You are here, your wife and children are in Spain, don’t you miss them, how often do you visit them?
You and I know that education in Nigeria is in comatose, it is on and off here and I didn’t want such to happen to my children .My children are still schooling over there, I used to stay with them but I have got to carry out some assignments in Nigeria .Actually I miss them a lot, but we talk everyday sometimes 3 to 4 times, I go anytime I am free, they are there because I am very particular about my Children’s education, let us be factual education in Nigeria still has a long way to go, but my wife also visit me in Nigeria once in a while.
Presently what does Mutiu Adepoju do?
I am a member of the technical committee of Nigeria football federation, it is quite unfortunate that we just lost the technical director Amodu Suaibu may his soul rest in perfect peace, may Keshi’s soul rest in peace too.
Apart from football what does Mutiu do?
I have been the the administrator of Kwara football academy from 2014 till March 2016.now I’m thinking of reviving many businesses that I left for football before.
Why did you leave Kwara football academy?
I signed two years contract which expired in March 2016, the management said they weren’t buoyant enough to renew the contract so I left.
Your former club both as player and coach shooting stars is experiencing turbulent times ,infact they are swimming in relegation waters, do you think the new coach can revive the club?
I think Gbenga Ogunbote is a very good coach, he has done it before he can do it again, but he must be given enough resources to work wth.if the players that he is going to work with are okay I believe everything will be fine.
Do you have any plans to coach any of the national teams of Nigeria?
One can never predict the future, as we speak we have people doing that but maybe in the nearest future I can give it a look in., I am willing and ready to serve my country.
Nigeria failed to qualify for the Nations Cup twice in a row, what do you make of that?
This is happening because of the crisis we are facing, it has happened to Egypt before now it is our turn I think we should fix the crisis within
Where is Mutiu Adepoju from?
I am from Ibadan, born and bred in Ibadan.
Please, sir, fill us in into your educational background?
I attended Chris staff school, from there I proceded to Prospect high school, also in Ibadan, I also attended University of Ibadan too but in Spain I did a lot of coaching courses.
What is your biggest regret in football?
I don’t have any regret at all.
What is your greatest achievement?
Well, playing in three different World Cups is my greatest achievements.
Report has it that Nigeria coaches are dying of Hypertension?
The fact that coaches are being owed salaries and allowances , and being told to win games can cause hypertension for them. I know with time things will surely get better.
Do you think Nigeria will qualify for the World Cup in 2018 ?
We have the players that can do it, all we need do is settle the problem affecting Nigeria football, I am sure these boys are rearing to go and ready to give their best.
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