Katsina United attacking midfielder, Adah Stephen has expressed confidence that his team will pick one of the continental tickets in the 2017/2018 NPFL season. The former Enugu Rangers and FC IfeanyiUbah player said the club boast of experienced players who would guide the younger ones to achieve the feat.
How did you start your football career?
Like most Nigerian football players, I started right from childhood. I mean from primary to secondary school. Although I am from Ogbadibo local government area of Benue State, I grew up in Katsina Ala local government area of the same state. So it was there that my career started. It was not easy from the beginning because my father was not favourably disposed to my decision to play football. Most times once I returned from school, I would go straight to the nearby football filed to play. And any time I returned, he would flog me but my mum always came to my rescue. He wanted me to go to school. I am happy that I didn’t disappoint him because before I became a professional, I made sure I graduated from the state College of Education, that is College of Education Katsina Ala where I read Business Education in 2004.
When did you turn professional?
After playing youth football, I became a professional football player in the year 2007 when I joined FC Taraba. They were in the second division. From FC Taraba, I joined Enugu Rangers where I spent three seasons before I was loaned out to Akwa United. After the loan, I returned to Rangers and was loaned back to FC Taraba. From Taraba, I moved to Sunshine Stars of Akure where I did a half season before moving to FC IfeanyiUbah. I moved to Katsina United in 2017 after playing for FC IfeanyiUbah.
Why did you leave a big club like FC IfeanyiUbah to join a newly promoted side?
What happened is that after we won the Federation Cup in Lagos, there were changes in the club during the pre-season. Secondly, I fell sick and went for treatment and when I returned to the club, there was this feeling that I wasn’t meeting up and so I was like sacked by the club. Although I had signed a two year contract and it was still running, I was sacked just like that. I don’t think I was treated fairly but that is football in Nigeria for you.
And you didn’t report to the appropriate authorities?
I didn’t want to bother myself about it because this is Nigerian football. A lot of things are not done in the right way so it is always difficult to get justice even when you are mistreated. Clubs hardly respect contracts with players. I didn’t want to go through the stress. Moreover, I knew that it was only a matter of time before I would move on with my career. So in all I have no regret and I have no hard feelings towards anyone about the incident. At least, I am still playing in the topflight and I am happy with where I am at the moment.
How did you get into Katsina United?
I got into the club through one of the officials who knows me and my playing abilities. He introduced me to the club chairman and the coach. As a matter of fact I signed my contract with the club in Abuja before I even travelled to Katsina to join the rest of the squad.
How did you settle in the club and life in Katsina State?
It didn’t take me long because even before I joined, I had some friends in the club so they made me feel very much at home. Moreover, I am a Nigerian and Katsina State is just like any other place in the country. It was easy for me to adjust to the life in Katsina because I live a simple life style and I don’t find it hard to mix with people I meet.
How satisfied are you with your first season in Katsina United?
I am not very satisfied but I give glory to God for everything he has done for me and the club. Although we did not meet our target, we are grateful that we were able to retain our place in the NPFL. I am confident that come next season, we shall do better than we did this season.
Do you see Katsina United winning a continental ticket next season?
It is very possible because we have the calibre of players who will do the job. There are young and talented players in the team who played their first season and are going to come out better in the coming season. If you put that together with the presence of experienced players like Paul Danjuma who has been to two World Cups and Nations Cup, Obinna Eleje who played for top clubs like Enyimba and Warri Wolves, Martins Ursule, Yinka, Nasiru Sanni, the skillful Destiny Ashadi and a others, we are going to have a more formidable team next season. Moreover, I am sure the management of the club will beef up the team with some quality players. So we are going to fight for one of the continental ticket next season.
What was Katsina United’s most difficult match last season?
I will say our away match against Akwa United was the most difficult. We lost the match 2-0 and it was not a good experience. They didn’t give us any opportunity to play as they dominated possession. They were able to keep the ball away from us. Before we knew what was happening, they scored two goals in the first half and that was all. Our situation was made worse by the long journey from Katsina to Uyo. There was fatigue as a result of the distance we covered by road.
Which match would you say was the best for your team?
Without doubt our match against Rivers United in Port-Harcourt was the best. As a matter of fact the point we got in that match is what has kept us in the NPFL. It was a massive result for us. So I can say that was our best match.
How many goals did you score for Katsina United?
Well, I play as an attacking midfielder so in the league I did not score any goal but I scored in the Federation Cup. You see at this level of football, one is expected to play according to instructions so most times I do the job that has been assigned to me by the coaches. However, I am working on my scoring abilities. I hope to score some goals in the coming season.
How much support is Katsina United enjoying from the state government?
There is no perfect human organisation so what I can say is that they are trying. At least we do not lack the basic things we need to carry out our responsibilities. The Governor of the state is passionate about sports so I expect him to sustain his interest in the club. On our part we shall also try out best to justify his support for the club. Our chairman, Alhaji Aminu Balele Kurfi is another great motivator. His passion for the club and football is amazing. So with all these, we are happy but more can be done to get the best out of the players.
What is your assessment of the NPFL?
To be honest with you, welfare of players is one of the major problems in the NPFL. Most clubs don’t give priority attention to the welfare of their players. It is so disturbing that at the end of each season, it is hard to find a player who can boast of N200,000 in his account. Most players borrow money which they repay with interest just to eat. Most of the clubs are owned by government so I am appealing to them to kindly do something about players’ welfare. I want to say that most times players leave our league to join leagues in neighbouring countries because of lack of encouraging incentives here.
Would you say there is improvement in the area of officiating?
In this area, I can say there has been tremendous improvement. The referees are becoming better than they were few years back. So I want to give kudos to Nigerian referees. Now we see so many away wins and draws. It was not like this in the past. I am hoping that in the coming season, they will even do better.
You have played for some top clubs in the NPFL, how soon do you hope to play for the national team?
Well I am yet to play for the Super Eagles but I have represented Nigeria at the U-20 level. I was part of the John Obuh team that played in the invitational tournament in Egypt in 2010. So I am now hoping to play for the Super Eagles in the near future. God’s time is the best so I will get there when it is time.
