17th January, 2013
For the first time in 20 years, Pa Segun Adenuga, who clocks 71 years today, said he would not celebrate his birthday because he just lost his close friend and colleague in sports journalism, Deacon Ayo Ositelu.
“There is no reason for me to celebrate my birthday this year when I just lost my best friend, Ayo Ositelu,” said Adenuga, who started sports journalism about 40 years ago.
“If I had the opportunity of turning 72 next year, I will celebrate my birthday, but if God willing and I don’t have the chance of making it, then no problem. I believe nobody can live forever,” he said.
Pa Adenuga is a household name in Nigerian sports journalism. He was born at Langbasa, a riverside area of Lagos State.
Langbasa is located at Lekki via Epe.
“My parents hailed from Owu in Ijebu, very close to Itokin in Lagos. I grew up on Lagos Island. I attended St David School at Lafiaji, Lagos and Olu Iwa College in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State,” he said.
Adenuga recalled his foray into sports journalism, saying that he took to journalism in 1973. According to him, “I was with Standard Newspaper of Jos. I left this paper to the Punch in 1976, by then Solomon Owolabi Ilori, a.k.a Ilori was the Sports Editor.
“My salary that time was N120 and I had a fulfilled and exciting career in Punch that time. As a reporter, I happened to witness the burning of the Kalakuta Republic, Fela Anikulapo’s house, a week after FESTAC ‘77. I met former Nigerian boxer, Obisia Nwakpa for the first time at Fela’s house that day. My other colleagues ( Segun Odofin-News Editor, Yomi Ajetunmobi and Rory Graham, an outcast whose father was from Rivers State and mother from Scotland), amd I, who covered the incident wrote a beautiful story; a story that launched Punch into the limelight and a story that Punch used to break into daily publication.
“Punch was the only newspaper that used the story extensively. I can recollect that the story was used with photos on front and back pages of the paper, followed by Sketch that mentioned it as two paragraph news items because their reporters were not really on ground at the venue.
“I can still remember the headline of the story titled: INFERNO: Kakalakuta Republic Burnt! With two riders: Pandemonium In Kalakuta Republic, Journalist Beaten (this is because I was beaten by soldiers on that day).”
He said his sojourn in sports journalism has taken him to many countries across the world, writing on boxing and football.
“I have been to 16 West African countries. Of the 54 African nations, I have been to 42 and virtually I have been to all the six continents of world covering either boxing or football events. I covered the FA Cup at Wembly Stadium in London when John Fashanu’s team played in the final in 1988. I have been to the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Azteca Stadium in Mexico, one of the cleanest and best stadia in the city of 26m people, I was also at Gwaladahara Stadium in Mexico. This is one of the most beautiful stadia, where Pele of Brazil played in the semi final of the FIFA World Cup in 1970. I was with Ayo Ositelu at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, where we shared the same room because we did not have enough money.
“I was once the Deputy Sports Editor of the Herald, Sports Editor of Democratic of Kaduna and later the Associate Editor of the paper and by the grace of God today, I’m the head of Resource Centre of Surulere Local Government, working directly with the Chairman, Tajudeen Ajide Yusuff,” he said.
Adenuga told P.M.News that he had an emotional passion for the Ghanaian football; a passion which he and his close friend, the late Ositelu shared.
“I have great respect for Ghana’s Black Stars, although the game is fast declining unlike in the past. The Ghanaians have a kind of football that can be played into music. I took pleasure in travelling especially covering both national and grassroots football in West African countries. That was the reason people nicknamed me ‘West Coast’.”
To Adenuga, the best team that Nigerian football ever had was the defunct Stationary Stores of Lagos. “This was a club that played entertaining and purposeful football. Ayo Ositelu and I, were appointed Special Advisers of the club. I later became the Team Manager of Stores. You can’t believe that I singlehandedly recruited the players that won the Nigerian League for Stores in 1992, and won virtually all awards of that year’s League: The Best Team, Best Player, Highest Scorer and others. Anywhere I go till today; Stores’ supporters still hail and adore me.
“I have also contributed to the success stories of many Nigerian players. I was with the team of Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria, YSFON that went to win the Gotha Cup Championship for Nigeria in 1980. I went to the tournament alongside the President of YSFON then, the late Chief Dokun Abidoye and scribe, Tony Eke.”
Speaking about his wife, Adenuga pour encomiums on Mrs. Modupeola Barbara, whom he said is a mother to him. “I have a very loving wife who tolerates me. She is a textile merchant in Oshodi, Lagos State. She has been wonderful to me. My food is always ready even when I did not give her any money. I’m blessed with four girls and two boys.
“I can say I have paid my dues in sports journalism in Nigeria. Although, I’m not rich but I’m not poor because I’m contented with what I have. I prefer to be on my own; scouting for players and writing,” he concluded.
—Taiwo Adelu