After leading a successful goalkeeping career in Nigeria and Israel, former Super Eagles goalie, Dele Aiyenugba is not retired yet, and he already has the task of helping his up-and-coming son, Daniel, become better than him.

When former Super Eagles goalkeeper and Kwara United man, Dele Aiyenugba, shared the phone number of his son with our correspondent, the name on it was ‘Dan Goalie’.

The expectation was that Aiyenugba would either type out the number by heart or perhaps the name on the contact would be ‘Daniel Aiyenugba’, ‘Daniel’ or even more expectedly, ‘My Son.’

“Aside from being my son, that’s the way I see him,” Aiyenugba explained why he tagged him ‘Dan Goalie.’

“I see him as a mentee or a junior colleague who is in the same profession as me. It doesn’t take away the fact that he is my son, it makes the bond even stronger.”

In a career that has spanned 25 years, Aiyenugba needs no introduction in Nigerian football.

After spending six years with Enyimba in the Nigerian league, where he won two CAF Champions League titles in 2003 and 2004, two CAF Super Cups in 2004 and 2005, one FA Cup title in 2005, as well as four NPFL titles in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2007, Aiyenugba moved to Israel in 2007.

Interestingly, the lad started football as an outfield player.

“I started with a football club called Future Stars in Ilorin. That was when I started thinking of becoming a goalkeeper because I was formerly a striker. I played for Future Stars before I joined Kwara Football Academy, where I met my trainer, coach Oluyori,” the young Aiyenugba said.

Transitioning from an outfield player to a goalkeeper, especially among young players, could mean a smart way of finding space for oneself in a star-studded team.

But Daniel insists he was a very good striker who was inspired to try goalkeeping after watching video clips of his father and watching him train while he was in Nigeria.

“I watch a lot of video clips of my dad, even up till now. After watching him too, anytime he comes home during their off season, he does his goalkeeping training on the same pitch with me and my brother.

“So, I had to stop playing sometimes so I could pay attention to his techniques. That was how I took interest and decided to become a goalkeeper too,” he said.

His father wasn’t blind to Daniel’s curiosity.

“I believe my career was part of what influenced Daniel because I could remember anytime I came home for break, he also had his mind on my routine, despite playing as a striker. Thankfully, he had a coach, Oluyori, who put him through the basics and is still teaching him till now,” the father stated.

As a footballer himself, Aiyenugba never opposed his children pursuing a career in the game, but he had to think twice about the choice of Daniel becoming a goalkeeper.

He said, “I asked his coach to keep sending me his clips while I was in Israel because I wanted to be sure he was ready. A goalkeeper’s job isn’t as easy as he might think.

“When I started, my father was there for me too. He took me to the stadium to train and watched my game, but he was not a goalkeeper. So, it was easy for me to guide him as much as I wanted him to have fun as well,” the former Super Eagles goalkeeper said.

Being the son of a two-time CAF Champions League winner and 17-cap Super Eagles goalkeeper comes with huge expectations.

But the young lad is not one to be buoyed or pressured by his last name. He told our correspondent he wants to do things at his pace.

He’s already a specialist in stopping penalties, just like his father. (The PUNCH)

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