Former Super Eagles midfielder Garba Lawal believes that playing for the national side is borne out of patriotism and not a desire to amass wealth.
In an interview with Punch, Garba, 42, recounts the joys of being a part of Nigeria’s historic Olympic football gold winning side 20 years ago, stating that the feeling cannot be surpassed.
The dynamic midfielder, who now works for the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, said: “The Olympics can just be said to be the peak or pinnacle of one’s career. The feeling one has being there is different from that of playing in the World Cup.”
Having had the privilege of featuring at two Olympic Games (Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000) Garba said the difference between both sides was the hunger and experience of the victorious 1996 team that had the likes of Jay Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu.
“The difference between the two is much. At the Atlanta 1996 Olympics, we had players with great exposure and a very great zeal to succeed. Players like Jay Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu and players who had played at the USA 1994 World Cup in that team – like Daniel Amokachi.
He expressed surprise at the hullabaloo over the travails of the Rio 2016 team, seeing as such problems were not new to the side.
“When I hear any of our players complaining about money and not being paid, I am amazed because these players are aware that the problem has been perennial with the country. In 1996, we were owed a lot of money and we still turned it into a motivating force to win the gold medal.
The former Ajax and JC Roda midfielder ended with a word of advice for upcoming athletes in the country.
“Those who have won one thing or the other for Nigeria are proud of it today. So anybody who wants to represent Nigeria – be it at the Olympics or other competitions – should realise that the money will come later but they need to achieve that dream with all they have got.”
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