Unknown to many football pundits and lovers of the round leather game, former Flying Eagles and Greater Tomorrow FC star, Bremner Alada, did not retire from active football due to injury. He quit the beautiful because of his education.
Bremner Alada
Alada, who started his football career with Greater Tomorrow FC of Lagos before being invited to the national teams, kicked the beautiful game bye to further his education in the United States of America (U.S.).
According to him, “I did not retire from active football due to injury or any other reason, but I stopped playing active football to further my studies in the U.S. While there, I had the opportunity of going to Germany for professional (soccer) career, but because I had not finished my studies, I decided to stay over there before I came back to Nigeria now.”
The diminutive midfielder confessed that his father, Sylvester Alada, and the late Moshood Kasimawo Olawale (M.K.O.) Abiola aided his decision, and today he has no regret, neither does his father.
“My father actually wanted me to further my education, after my secondary education in Lagos, Nigeria, and today I’m not regretting that decision, and he is not regretting either. My father and the late M.K.O. Abiola actually encouraged me to further my studies in the U.S., and today, to God be the glory,” said Alada, who now holds a B.Sc. degree in Economics and Masters in Business Administration (MBA).
But while studying at the Brooklyn College and City University of New York, Alada also played some competitive football matches alongside some Nigerian players who were also studying with him namely Deinde Akinlotan, Mike Dominic, Joseph Fayemi, Victor Ogunsanya and Jonathan Akpoborie.
Alada, whose last football game in the country was for defunct Abiola Babes FC of Abeokuta in the 1986 FA Cup final against defunct Leventis United at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, which ended 1-0 in favour of Leventis, described football then as very competitive.
He said: “Football in our days was very competitive. Then we were very hungry for action. We loved the game, the passion was there and we were always ready to die for the country by wearing the national colours. Then, sportsmen generally didn’t have the opportunity of going to school and playing football at the same time; you only have one choice: play soccer full-time or quit to face your studies.
“Then there was not much money to be made playing football full-time. There is no more football today because of the love for money. Then there was no money, but wearing the national team jersey was enough pride for us.”
Though he does not fault the new generation of players for playing for money, he is quick to urge them to be more patriotic.
“You cannot blame any player now for playing for money, but they should not make it their priority. They should show more love for the country and have the passion to represent the country. The money can come later and every other thing will follow,” he said.
Alada, who also played for defunct National Bank FC of Lagos, regretted not playing alongside the late Mudashiru Lawal.
His regret is captured this way: “After my team, Abiola Babes, lost 1-0 to Leventis United in the 1986 FA Cup final, I was so sad and upset that I left for the U.S. to further my education. After I left Abiola Babes, the late Muda Lawal joined the team. If I knew he would be joining the team, I wouldn’t have left because I would love to play with him.”
He also remembers an international friendly match between Nigeria and Brazil in 1984 which the African giants lost due to what he described as poor officiating.
Another memorable match for him was the tie between Nigeria and Tunisia in Tunis which Nigeria won.
“It was in 1985, a tough match. I cannot forget it,” he reminisced.
