Why I Prefer Goalkeeping At Melidion Football Club

Itua Osayi started his football career with Melidion Football Academy in 2005.He started as player, but today he is  a number one goalkeeper for the Academy. He bares his mind in this interview with P.M.Sports, on why he became a goalkeeper  

Howlong have you been playing for Melidion Football Academy?

I have been playing for the Academy since 2005. Some of my fans do ask when would I leave the academy and my reply has always been ‘ when the time comes I will leave’.

Your were once a player before you became goalkeeper, what informed your decision?

It is true that I started as a player but presently I am a goalkeeper for my team. I became a goalkeeper when our first choice goal keeper was not around during the U-12 Champions League in 2008.I approached my coach, Peter to allow me to man a goal post and he gave me a chance and I delivered.

Did your team win the tournament?

Of course yes. We won all our matches and defeated New Generation Football Academy 2-0 in the final. I was even given best goal keeper of the tournament. It was a tournament I could not forget because everybody was marvel with my performance throughout the championship.

How was experience look like since you became a goalkeeper?

It has been a wonderful experience. The more I keep more matches, the more the confidence grows. I like goalkeeping and I don’t want to return again as a player.

It seems that Grassroots clubs and academies in Lagos lack good goalkeepers, what are the factors responsible for this?

Many grassroots clubs or academies don’t have good goalkeeper trainers so it will be difficult for any goalkeeper to excel in such situation. Many club owners or grassroots clubs coaches in Lagos don’t take the goalkeeping department serious, they concentrate more on the players at the detriment of goalkeepers.

How many laurels have you won for your team?

I won Independent cup after we defeated New Generation academy 2-1 in the final and emerged as the second as the first runner up in New Africa Society Cup after we lost 0-2 to Peace United.