Augustine Owen Eguavoen, former Super Eagles captain and coach, is celebrating his 61st birthday today, marking more than four decades since an unexpected childhood experience changed the course of his sporting career.
Despite becoming one of Nigeria’s most recognisable football figures, Eguavoen revealed in 2020 that football was not his first sporting passion.
As a young boy, he was more interested in athletics, particularly the 100 and 200 metres events, which he competed in from his primary school days.
His interest in football changed after his family moved to Benin City following his father’s transfer from AT&T in Sapele.
At the time, Bendel Insurance had just won the Nigerian FA Cup after defeating Enugu Rangers 3-0. The victory triggered celebrations across Benin City, with supporters reportedly travelling as far as Oluku, about 15 kilometres away, to welcome the victorious team.
The scale of the celebrations left a young Eguavoen fascinated.
He later recalled wondering why football had generated such excitement and attention, eventually deciding to give the sport a chance.
That decision led him to the training ground of Marathon Youth Football Club, located close to his home. There, he met Christopher Erarho and Sunday Enobhakre, who allowed him to join the team.
According to Eguavoen, that encounter in 1978 marked the beginning of his football career.
Just 10 years later, the youngster who had initially preferred athletics was representing Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
His career subsequently took him outside Nigeria. At about 21, Eguavoen moved to Belgium, where he played for Gent before later joining K.V. Kortrijk.
He also had a spell with Ourense during his playing career.
However, his time in Belgium was marked by a major personal setback when his father died. Eguavoen, who was very close to his father, said the loss affected him deeply and contributed to a decline in his form.
His coach at Gent eventually decided to transfer him to K.V. Kortrijk.
Despite the challenges, Eguavoen went on to establish himself as a prominent Nigerian international and later transitioned into coaching.
His journey from a young athletics enthusiast to a Super Eagles player and coach remains one of the more unusual stories in Nigerian football.
On his 61st birthday, his story serves as a reminder that a sporting career can sometimes emerge from the most unexpected beginnings.
