Sagamu, Ogun State Born Youngest and Talented REFEREE in an Exclusive Interview with SON: Save Our Nation. Published, June 29th, 2016.

Sagamu, Ogun State Born Youngest and Talented REFEREE in an Exclusive Interview with SON: Save Our Nation. 

Published On June 29^th, 2016.

 

Can we meet you?

I am Salami Yusuf popularly known as OGBARA, meaning EROSION in English, I was born and brought up in Sagamu, Ogun State.

Why do people call you OGBARA?

I was named OGBARA by someone that I don’t even know, I grew up to hear that people call me by the name.

How old are you?

I am in my early thirties.

What is your level of education?

I attended Sonyindo Community High School, Sagamu after which I proceeded to The Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro in Ogun State where I bagged my National diploma in marketing.

What has marketing as a course got to do with sport?

Marketing is just part of our daily lives, if you can sleep, wake up and buy something out there, most especially when there is an exchange of money, you have done marketing.

How did you start your journey in sport?

I started my career in sport as a footballer back then in my Primary School to Secondary School days, we usually pay two-three aside then, I later joined the school team. I was chosen to be the Referee in one of the school inter-class competition. That was where my journey as a Referee started from.

Which international team fan are you?

Laugh…... Chelsea football club Blues for life!!!

If not football Referee, what would it be?

To be a professional footballer.

Where do you see yourself in five years as the youngest talented Referee in Ogun State at the moment?

This is a great question; I will like to see myself becoming the greatest Referee in Nigeria.

What can you say about the Nigerian league?

Nigeria league is a wonderful one indeed, we need the government to invest and encourage the younger players, the NFF and NFL have a better role to play in this.

Can you compare the local league with the international league?

There is no really big deal so to say, international league across the globe started locally too, 
investment is all we need and we will be there.

Ex super eagle’s coaches, Stephen Keshi and Amodu Shuaib died recently, what can you say to the tragedy.

It is indeed a great loss for Nigeria as a whole, they are both professionals and hardworking people, they have changed the face of football in Nigeria, their impart cannot be underestimated.

Do you see the super eagles qualifying for the world cup?

 I see them performing well in world cup but we need a profession and hardworking coach, Zambia, Algeria and Cameroon have all changed their coaches, all we need is someone who is capable to lead us to the promise land.

Word of advice for the younger ones aspiring to go in to sport and probably become a Referee like you.

Let us all embrace education first, ensure that you have a passion for sport before going in to it. Pray and work hard, then you will all get there.

YOUNGEST REFEREE CONTACT:
08137842729 or 08172790597 

Thank you for being there!!!

It’s a pleasure……...Laugh………. Thanks and God bless you!!!