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GARBA LAWAL -IN BACK AND WHITE, WAS SIMPLY PUT NIGERIA'S ULTIMATE 11TH MAN  Discuss Austin Okocha with any Nigerian football fan and you are likely to be rewarded with the widest Pepsodent grin ever witnessed. Discuss the gargantuan Kanu with the same fan and they are again likely to slip into feelings of nostalgia, remembering a period when Nigerian football was at its zenith. Who knows he or she might even try and hug you to death for rehashing a glorious period when the Eagles were really Super. However -as you will surely find out- things fall apart when you try to do the same with a certain Garba Lawal.That same hug is almost certainly to be replaced with a dirty sand paper like slap at worst, or a definitive Metschwwwwwww followed by an about-turn at best. Yes, such is the level of disrespect and borderline contempt with which most Nigerians regard or regarded Lawal. Simply put, only cerebral fans who understand all aspects of the game can and have truly appreciated this silent dynamo who performed flawlessly for so long underneath the hood of the vehicle we call "Nigerian Football". If you didn't appreciate him don't worry you are in good company because we never liked or understood him ourselves until much later. Just like a favorite Sweater that grows on you , he would eventually play himself into our hearts and become an irreplaceable part of our wardrobe not just because of looks but most importantly because of the security and warmth he would provide.
THE BEGINNING (ALPHA)
It is May the 22nd 1974 and around the world the headlines are a reflection of a changing time. In the US then President Nixon has just started down the road that will lead to his eventual impeachment, in Europe the Germans are about to host the first World Cup to be broadcast in color and in Africa the evil yoke of Apartheid is getting it first violent confrontation. Meanwhile in Kaduna, Garba Lawal is delivered to beaming parents and Football in Nigeria had just been blessed with her soon to be Patron Saint – virtually unnoticed.
Shine as we may our spot light we can't find much on a young Lawal both as an “Academical” (meaning participant in the then Principals Cup) or even as a semi pro. Rather he comes into public consciousness at the African U-20 Nations Cup in Mauritius. In as much as it was tournament best to be forgotten as Nigeria crashed out in the first round, it ironically featured players from that same team that would go on to become some of the most successful players ever to wear then beloved Green and White. They would include such stars as Austin Okocha, Taribo West, Kanu Nwankwo and of course Mr. Lawal himself. But to move on and turn the disappointing page that was Mauritius., Garba returned to The Ranchers Bees of Kaduna where he perpetrated open fraud as a supposed winger. Here he succeeded in doing no more then annoying the local fans with lackluster runs and crosses so feeble that even grasshoppers wouldn't get out of the way of his balls - let alone the opponent taking them serious. It is here we first come to see the unrelenting fighting spirit that would become his calling card. Garba picked himself up and embraced a more conservative playing style and within 2 years, he was with Esperance of Tunisia. Here he was embraced 100% by the North Africans because of his no frills style that would solidify and pave the road for other future Nigerian players.
The Atlanta Olympic Qualifiers came around and Garba was thrown into the fray against the Egyptians in Cairo. Wearing the No. 2 jersey, Garba played this game as if his life depended on it but offered little as an attacking force. Nevertheless, some people were beginning to take notice of this aggressive yet controlled pupa and a few could already see the blossoming of a great butterfly. But first there would be more trials and tribulation as well as many hurdles to cross. The first obstacle came in the diminutive shape of Victor Ikpeba whose form again relegated Lawal to bench during all subsequent qualifiers. If he was discouraged we never knew because Garba never hung his head rather he remained focused and continued to play as instructed. And then came the Atlanta Olympics and things would never be the same again.
THE ATLANTA OLYMPICS
"WHISPER WHISPER WHISPER" LAWAL STOOD FOR THE L IN TEAM SOLIDARITY 
Wearing the number 13 jersey, Garba spent the first few games coming off the bench for Emmanuel Amuneke whose nagging injury saddled him like ball and a chain. Again while he showed a few glimpses of zeal overall, he was unable to make a case with his style of play. It was soon obvious that he would never be another Okocha or Kanu who could take fans off the edges of their seats with sheer skill. Nor frankly speaking would he be an Amunike or Babangida whose speed would leave the same fans breathless and with mouth agape. However there was a sexy grittiness that was slowly becoming recognizable and repeatedly rising to the surface just like Oil on water. Finally he had a monster game during which he arrived full stock and barrel in arguably the best game of the Olympics, namely Nigeria's 2nd game against Brazil in the classic Semi Final. Standing in for the suspended Sunday Oliseh, Lawal bit like a Mopol whip and gave the Brazilians all he had and many Nigerians, in retrospect, will point to that match as the instance when we should have known Garba would never be an attacker. He snapped at a lot of Brazilian heels and when Oruma came on for Oparaku, he formed an impregnable middle with the former U-17 Captain creating a strong platform with which Nigeria clawed its way back into the game. Such was the amount of frustration that he dished out that as the perplexed Brazilians tried to torch our Embassy in Brasilia that night they cursed 2 names….Messer's Kanu and Lawal.
In the final against Argentina, many Nigerians rained curses on Johannes Bonfrere when with Nigeria down by 2 goals to 1, he pulled out Jay Jay Okocha, who was unable to shake the double marking despite his usual slippery game, and brought in Garba Lawal who wasn't exactly Diego Maradona. However, by the time Oruma came in for Oparaku again, Nigeria's 3-5-2 with Lawal, Oliseh and Oruma in the middle and with Amuneke and Babangida on the wings coupled with Amokachi and Kanu upfront, completely overwhelmed the Argentines and in reality, the final 3-2 score line really flattered Nigeria's opponents. Fresh from the Olympics, Garba dumped his Tunisian Club for Roja JC Kerkrade in Holland as the lure of Europe proved to be too strong for him. Within months of his arrival and despite the magnanimous linguistic difference again, he had developed into a calm leader on and off the field and such was the trust in him that he actually became one of the designated Penalty takers for the team.
POETRY
FRANCE 98 QUALIFIERS
Bonfrere Jo's use of Lawal as a central midfielder at the Olympics obviously went unnoticed by his replacement Amodu who once again played him as a left winger in Nigeria's second World Cup Qualifier against Kenya which ended 1-1 on the absolutely horrible Kasarani pitch. Here, Lawal's inadequacies based on this position were brought to the fore again. He couldn't run and most of all he couldn't dribble like Adokiye, Elaho, Emma Okocha and even a now sputtering Emmanuel Amunike and to many Nigerians who had being spoiled watching the aforementioned this was sacrilege. It was therefore a huge surprise when Amodus replacement, Phillipe Troussier brought on Lawal from the bench against the Guineans when several Nigerians felt he should have been "Awo Jumped" to the nearest border and off loaded, let alone been called back to camp. But the French wizard not only used him, he actually said Lawal was the player who impressed him the most. Still unbelievers the Nations Blood pressure rose collectively when the Coach again not only invited him against the Burkinabe’s in Ouagadougou, but also started him in his 3-5-2 formation. The Press literally skewered Lawal for missing a clear goal when Nigeria was two goals up. If we remember correctly Finidi George sent in a low cross which Garba promptly cracked into the up right. It would have been spectacular if the game had been Cricket but it was not and for many Nigerians, this was the last straw. Open net and they guy couldn't even score. Finally Nigerians sought to know what Lawal's secret was. When confronted with the reaction of Nigerians to his continued use of Lawal, the French Coach simply said Lawal was always playing to instructions. This was to be the reason advocated by several coaches after him who all seemed to find a place for the hardworking, if unspectacular player, in their teams. In repeated versions of Eagle teams that each regularly fielded more Super stars than the week has days, Lawal was content to be the simple 11th man. Plainly speaking he was the salt that bound the broth and made everything taste right. Mind bogglingly in Nigeria where everything related to our beloved birds is questioned and re questioned this again was overlooked and Lawal was baptized as a product of some ludicrous Quota system since he was from the Northern part of the country which produced far less footballers than the South.
FRANCE 98 WORLD CUP
An injury to Emmanuel Amunike just before the World Cup ensured that Nigerians were again stuck with Lawal for the World cup and again a nervous nation watched in trepidation. Unfazed Lawal chose the right time to register his first Nigerian goal as he brought Nigeria back from the dead against Spain in the 73rd minute after some dogged blue collar work during which he was outnumbered that ended with a low shot which sailed by a jittery Andoni Zubizaretta. It would take him almost another year to score his second goal which came during a 2-0 win over Burundi in Lagos during the eventually aborted Zimbabwe 2000 African Nations Cup Qualifiers which Nigeria finally co-hosted along with Ghana.
GHANA/NIGERIA 2000
Garba Lawal started Nigeria's first game against Tunisia as a returning Bonfrere Jo again sought to make use of a player that he admired. Nigeria won 4-2 but Lawal was again pickled by the Press as if he was a Herring rather than a bird of prey and Bonfrere complained to the press that Nigerians were preventing him from making use of Lawal as he would have liked. Regardless Lawal was in and out of this tournament and it is one he will like to forget in a hurry despite his silver medal. Many Nigerians thought they had seen the last of him but they were mistaken for Lawal would become a living testimony to the famous Fela song Water no Get Enemyin which we are reminded that Water is essential to human life and only a fool would dare go without it or try and fight it, and reappear again. This time? Down Under!
SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPICS
Lawal was taken as one of the over aged players and he stepped in quite well for Celestine Babayaro after the skipper was unfairly red carded against Australia and redialing his days in Holland as an astute closer from the 11 meter spot, he converted a howler of a PK against Italy to send Nigeria into the Quarter finals. In the quarters, against the Chileans, Garba normally the epitome of class was however sent off for arguing with the referee who obviously must have either been just a recent victim of some sort of Email fraud and held major yet unproven grudges or just had to be a complete, biased jerk. Take your pick. Nigeria was dismantled 4-1 and were on their way home. This tournament had however shown an aspect of Lawal's game that many had failed to notice: his versatility. Just as in Le Carre’s famous book Lawal was a Tinker, Tailor, Soldier and Spy playing left winger, left back, central as well as a roving midfielder. Next stop for the Lawal Express? Asia !
JAPAN /KOREA 2002 QUALIFIERS
Nigeria's first game, having drawn a bye to the next round, was against Eritrea’s Red Sea Boys. In the first leg, Nigeria drew 0-0 with their opponents and was criticized by press and citizenry alike. In the 2nd leg, with Nigeria leading 1-0, Lawal let fly a left footed scud missile from 25 yards ala Oliseh’s bomb against Spainthat seared the back of the net with such force that the soldier ants living below the goal immediately commenced a mass evacuation out of Lagos. Nigerians hailed Lawal openly for the first time as we romped to a 4-0 victory, but flip flopped almost immediately because in subsequent matches the whole team as a whole performed poorly, and Nigerians as usual needed their customary “Nkpi” or goat. After a grueling race with a Weah led Liberia, Nigeria snatched the ticket on the very last day, pummeling Ghana 3-0 in Port Harcourt. Lawal didn't start this game and though many Nigerians again felt that they had seen the last of him as usual this was again quarreling with water and they would be proved wrong.
MALI 2002 AFRICAN NATIONS CUP
Lawal didn't feature prominently in Nigeria's friendlies against Japan and Cote'd'Ivoire which ended 2-2 and 1-1 respectively and so Nigerians would have to be forgiven if they thought Lawal was finished. But with Nigeria leading 1-0 against Algeria and with the Arabs threatening to come back into the game, Amodu (back again for his 2nd out of 3 stints as head man) incurred the wrath of the perplexed fans by not only removing their wizard, JJ Okocha but by bringing in their old "friend", Garba Lawal! This incident was particularly funny to the both of us writers.
To me Akingbade, because of one particular old fan standing next to me, who said in a voice that seemed stuck between anger and confusion, “'Se won tu mu apa yi dani ni? (Did they carry this spoiler along?)” He was moments from crying .To me Suya, it was both comical and borderline incomprehensible because when JJ saw his Number of the FIFA Substitution board he commenced his run to the side line unemotional but then as if almost in a stupor he raised his hands palms upwards as if to say "Aw Come On - him?" when he saw it was Garba standing up to replace him.
GARBA DOES THE TRADITIONAL EAGLE "SCORERS" FLIP..THIS TIME CELEBRATING GHANA'S ELIMINATION 
Many Nigerians obviously didn't even know he was in the team. Well they got to know soon enough because Lawal played every game from then on. In the quarter finals against Ghana, after having been subjected to solid abuse by Nigerians, Lawal as usual remained as cool as the Harmattan wind and scored the only goal of the game, with a 20 yard belter that ensured that Nigeria qualified for the Semi finals. His resulting back flip (left) will go down if not as one the best ever certainly as one of the most gratifying. It was almost as if he giving the doubters a raised middle finger while saying “ Unna no see’?
In the Semi finals against Senegal, Nigerians quickly forgot about his exploits against Ghana and blamed him for Senegal's winning goal for failing to pick up El Hadji Diouf's run and pass. Even after replays showed clearly that Ike Shorunmu was attending to matters other than football just before the goal, and despite the fact that Oruma chose to weep rather than convert his own PK Nigerians still found solace in their scape goat. A bronze this time for the hardworking man.
JAPAN/KOREA 2002
Adegboye Onigbinde was appointed Chief Coach of the Nigerian national team after the Mali 2002 debacle and Lawal initially didn't feature in his warm up games, leaving again the doubters and naysayers to heave a sigh of relief which was as usual short lived. "Water" opps make that Lawal, started against Argentina for a team of unknowns which understandably failed to qualify for the next round. Yobo gave Nigeria one solitary moment of glory despite being in the Group of the Death. By this time, Lawal had long left Roda JC and he now played for Levski Sofia. Considering this , it was worrisome for Nigerians that he still some how found a way into the national team even when he wasn't playing in main stream Europe. His place in the national team under Christian Chukwu was also threatened by Femi Opabunmi and he hardly featured for the team in the Tunisia 2004 qualifiers although he played in the 3-0 defeat to a make shift Brazilian side in Abuja and was one of the few players who left with their reputations intact.
TUNISIA 2004
If Garba was a solitary trickle of a stream in Korea he arrived like Tsunami for this tournament. Now wearing the colors of Iraklis Saloniki after brief stints with both Elfsborg and Santa Clara he was alike a man possessed. After missing the 1-0 loss to Morocco, Garba played from the left back position against South Africa and shone like a million stars. Again his versatility was proving to be his trump card. In the next game against Benin Republic which Nigeria had to win, Garba sent them on the way, poking the ball beyond the goal keeper to put scores at 1-0. Nigeria's next game was against bitter rivals, Cameroun. Here Garba gave what was arguably his greatest performance in a Nigerian jersey as he marked out Cameroun's most dangerous player, Geremi Njitap. Nigeria won 2-1 but Garba was one of the true heroes as he matched Geremi move for move and the moment he was caught up field in a Nigerian attack, Geremi quickly seized the opportunity to set up Eto'O for a goal, proving how dangerous he was. Nigeria eventually lost on penalties to the hosts in the Semi Final and won the bronze by beating Mali 2-1. Lawal had successfully warmed his way into the hearts of several Nigerians.
GERMANY 2006 WORLD CUP/EGYPT 2006 QUALIFIERS
Lawal featured prominently in the qualifiers, playing from the left back position and he was roundly criticized along with his left wing partner, Ifeanyi Ekwueme for offering very little as an attacking force. When Nigeria lost the initiative to Angola in that ill fated match in Kano, and Chukwu was "suspended", Eguavoen seemed to have no use for Garba who lost his starting shirt. The last 2 games produced 10 goals for Nigeria and Garba was not involved as Nigeria failed to qualify.
EGYPT 2006
Much to the consternation of his detractors, Lawal again found his way into the final 23 for the Nations cup and featured against Tunisia in the quarter finals off the bench so as to offer support to Taiye Taiwo who was being molested by the Tunisians due to lack of support by Obinna Nsofor. He gave a good account of himself. His next game in this Tournament and indeed his last game for Nigeria, was in the 3rd place match against Senegal where he played well apart from scoring the only goal that gave Nigeria the bronze. Who will ever forget the caption on the huge score board in Cairo paying the ultimate respect to Garba when they flashed his name in both Arabic and English as [u]MR GARBA LAWAL [/u]….a first and since then last in the ANC. If we wouldn’t respect him the rest of Africa was tired of waiting and would. Club wise Lawal would move on to Julius Berger briefly before joining Chinas Shenyang Ginde FC, where he was used more as player coach than as a mere player. They too has come to understand his true value.
THE LEGACY - OMEGA
Garba Lawal will be remembered as the very epitome of professionalism. In circa 13 years of service to his country,Garba never "missed" his way to camp and never put club before country. He always played according to instructions and what he lacked in natural ability, he more than made up for by being tactically astute and by packing a fierce shot. He was slow but if after 120 minutes of football, there was one player who would readily play until the next day, it would be Garba Lawal. If scorers of important goals are listed, Garba Lawal's name will feature. If you were trying to find a player who could be found in Camp even before it was declared open, look no further than Garba Lawal. He might not have won much at Club/International level, but his dedication and self belief were unrivalled and the young bucks of today will do well to learn from him. He will rank as one of the few Nigerians to have scored goals in the World Cup, the African Nations Cup and in the Olympics. His 3 goals in the African Nations cup have put him in the same league as the likes of Rashidi Yekini as having scored in 3 or more African Nations Cups.
It is really remarkable that Lawal achieved all these without the fan fare associated with the more popular players like JJ Okocha and Kanu Nwankwo, both of whom never scored a World cup goal. It is our sincere appeal to the NFF that players like Lawal who oozed patriotism throughout their years of service should be rewarded or recognized. Lawal in particular, suffered more abuse than any other Super Eagle during his time and we think he should be appreciated.
Thanks for the years of service, Garba, and know that some people appreciate you. We hope young players of today can learn from you.
BY Akinlabi Sylvester Akingbade Esq AND Iwedi Ojinmah AKA SUYA
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY BOTH © 2008
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Posted by Robot| 25.09.2008 19:49