His father coached the Golden Eaglets and was assistant to the 1996 Atlanta Olympic-winning Bonfere Jo, but Baldwin Bazuaye attained the height he did in his football career through dint of hardwork, not the usual ‘Nigerian’ factor
Baldwin Bazuaye
He remains the only player from the then Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin City to play in all the national teams.
Today, Baldwin Bazuaye looks back on his playing days for the country and said he should be respected because he has paid his dues.
“Playing for the country was a great experience during our days in the national team,” he said.
Recounting how it started, Bazuaye recalled that “we started from Academicals in Edo State. They picked most of us from Academicals and Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) and we started in the Under-16 camp.”
For him, it was a great experience, first time ever. From there, they went to the FIFA Under-16 World Cup and returned victorious, a first for Africa.
“That was the China ’85 FIFA Kodak Cup. We won the cup and when we came back, we joined the Flying Eagles team,” he said.
Bazuaye travelled with the team to Chile for the FIFA World Youth Championship (WYC) in 1987 before playing several times for the Under-23 team. He was the first to be used as an over-aged player among the three picked when the Under-23 team was created.
His father, Willy Bazuaye, was a popular coach, but Baldwin insists that did not influence his career.
“Yes, my father, Willy Bazuaye, was a great coach; he brought out most of the players we see and hear of today like Henry Nwosu, Stephen Keshi, Benson Edema and Franklin Howard. They are all my dad’s products,” he disclosed.
He confessed that he was very close to the team and learnt some football skills from the players.
He said: “With players like those mentioned above and Humphrey Edobor, I saw what it takes to be a great player when you are close to them. One thing was that my dad never gave me a note to go to any club for help or assistance.
“I think I’m proud of that and he’s proud of it too. My dad never gave me a note and he never called anybody to help me; but that name, Bazuaye, was blessed. I was good and disciplined on and off the field of play. If you want to be successful in life, you must be disciplined.”
Bazuaye has nothing but happiness and appreciation at the opportunity to play for the country. For him, there are no regrets.
“Nobody can say he regrets playing for Nigeria,” he said with pride. “I was glad to play for Nigeria. I was glad to serve my country. I was glad to be there. When you are called to serve your country, you should be happy.”
He cited high level of commitment and passion as some of the factors that made their playing time with the national team tick.
Going further, he said: “In our time, we played, and then there was no money as such. Then we were given $20 as camping allowance. From $20, it went to $25 and then $30. That was why we respected the current senior national team coach, Stephen Keshi, because as a captain then in the senior side, he made sure that everything came up and he carried everybody along.
“There was no money then, but the friendship exhibited by players from different clubs when we are in camp was plain for all to see. Those were the times of the likes of Peter Obanor, the late Omale Obiamele, Finidi George and Emmanuel Amuneke, to mention a few.
“We were always happy to play for the country. We kept ourselves as one family, and the target was the determination to win every game. Not the money then, but the praises, thumbs up that go with it.”
Bazuaye has a lot of memorable moments in active footballing days, as he always put in his best while on the pitch.
According to him, “I had a nice period with the national team with as many memorable matches as possible. But the match I will never forget in a hurry was the one where I took a great risk to ensure the national team won. I turned inside the 18-yard box, played a scissors kick and the goal turned out to be the winning goal of the match. Mobi Okparaku, Ndubusi Ndah, everybody were all over me. That match was against Algeria and it was a great celebration in the hotel after the encounter.
“Another one was a friendly played against Ajax Amsterdam in Bangkok. I was in Super Eagles then. Thompson Oliha, Finidi George, others and I beat Ajax with all their big names like Frank Rijkaard and Clarence Seedorf. It was a great match and we won.”