Godwin Izilein, captain of the Mid-West selected team, who were beaten 2-1 by a Santos side complete with Pele, in this interview, tells ‘TANA AIYEJINA how he stopped the Brazilian legend from scoring in an exhibition game played in Benin City in 1969
How did you receive the news of the death of Pele?
I monitored it all through when he was admitted to the hospital. I really felt his loss, I felt it because he was a unique legend who should have stayed to see more of the developments in the game. He was able to impact the game in his time. He was such a unique legend because he would have still been at the point to advise players of the new generation on what to do and what not to do. May his soul rest in peace.
You were part of the Mid-West Region selected side that played against a Pele-led Santos side in an exhibition game in 1969. What was the purpose of Santos visit to Nigeria then?
The main purpose was to expose us (footballers) to excellence, to good football because our football association then headed by Chief Nosakhare Igbinedion and the Mid-West Region Military Administrator Samuel Ogbemudia capitalised on the visit of Santos to Nigeria and pleaded with the Nigeria Football Association to allow them come to Benin to play against us. The second purpose was to remove that fear that enveloped everybody because of the Civil War. Before then, we had gone around to visit some states like Ibadan, Lagos and Kaduna to preach awareness. So, Santos coming in again was to help remove the fear from the people and brought everyone out from the nooks and crannies to the stadium in Benin. It was like a carnival, everybody enjoyed it and momentarily forgot about the war.
How did you look forward to that game, as captain and the man detailed to mark Pele?
It was very exciting and it’s interesting to know that in the first five minutes, they were leading 2-0 and the fans were shouting, ‘this one will reach 20-0.’ But during the game, someone got injured, and when we replaced him, I had to assign responsibilities to all the players, but the biggest problem was who will mark Pele? I volunteered, I said I will mark him since we are of the same height and we restarted. I never had any fear then because my co-central defender then, Dele Okubore, was a very enterprising footballer who gave me all the encouragement to mark Pele all through the time he was on the pitch. And he didn’t score against us. Around the 70th minute, Pele left the pitch. There was a ball he chipped over our heads, if I kicked it, it would have been another goal. So, I just controlled the ball and played it into corner. After that, Pele just pulled his shirt and left the pitch. When we got to the guesthouse, after the match, he commended our efforts. That match came and went, but different stories here and there came up. However, none of those who told the stories were there. Thank God I was there and I witnessed it. We played with a lot of determination to make sure we were not disgraced on the pitch. The game ended 2-1 after Titus Okere scored a goal for us.
At the stadium, how did the fans receive Pele and his teammates?
They were excited and they were clapping for Pele and his teammates. We the home team were like the villains, they didn’t even know we were there, they kept cheering the Brazilians. But we had made up our minds that we were not going to be disgraced. God heard our prayers, it was 2-1 against us, whereas the national team were beaten 4-1 by Santos. Edu, Pele, Lima, Di Maria of then, all of them, we saw them, they played and they saw that we were equally determined to match them.
After the game, did you speak to him personally?
The interpreter called me and Pele said through him that I had a future; that was the time I was given the name ‘utility player’. He said he saw me in his front, he saw me in the defence, and he asked me what my real position was. I said I play all positions, and he said ‘Oh, you are a utility player.’
Of what impact did Pele’s coming have on sports in the region at that time?
It was quite motivating because (Samuel) Ogbemudia said after the visit that he believed in training and some coaches were sent to different parts of the world for training. Some were sent to Brazil, and nothing like that is going on now. I don’t expect coaches to give out what they don’t know, if you are trained, you will excel and have enough to pass on to your players. For the Mid-West Region as at that time, we were coached and that is why there was absolute development in all aspects of sports in football, cricket, hockey, and all in the region. We were dominating because our coaches were trained and they knew what to give to the athletes when it came to training programmes in their respective sports. It was quite motivating.
Do you agree with those who say Messi is now the greatest player of all time and no longer Maradona or Pele since he has won the World Cup and seven Ballon d’Ors?
Winning all these prizes and competitions can be political and not based on performance. Pele was a natural player, he played good football and if he had facilities that they have now, he would have done more than others are doing. To me, Pele is still the greatest because he was natural in his performance.
Having played with Pele, what quality did he possess that you think the current footballers need to become the best in their positions?
First is discipline, he was highly disciplined. He was submissive to his coaches and I noticed during the training sessions and warm-up before the game, he listened attentively when his coaches were talking. And two, while he was a gifted player, he never allowed those gifts to make him proud, which is a problem with our modern players. Once they excel a little bit, they become arrogant and before you know it, they are out of the game.