Ex-soccer star, syndicated newspaper columnist, TV talk show host, businessman, proprietor of Eagle 7 Sports Radio Station and Segun Odegbami International College of Sports; a rich C.V. you would say
Chief Odegbami, MON a former captain of the Green Eagles (now Super Eagles), spoke to BEATS about his latest project, the Radio Station:
Question: Congratulations on the launch of Eagle 7 Sports Radio station. What’s your motivation behind this project?
Answer: Thank you. The Station is yet to officially take off. We are still expecting final inspection and approval by the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission before we launch out to the world. What we have been doing since January is internal testing of the equipment and facilities we are putting in place.
I have always wanted an outlet to tell the Nigerian story on sports. That’s why since 1992 I have been involved very seriously with the media, writing, presenting, and producing some radio and TV content for media organisations. I wanted my own so that I can do everything more in the promotion of sports. Hence, a radio station to start with. I still intend to have a terrestrial TV station. I am beginning this radio station side by side with an online TV station.
Question: Where exactly is your operational base?
Answer: The studios of the station are in Panseke area of downtown Abeokuta in Ogun State.
Question: Tell us, sir, what type of content are we to expect?
Answer: The vision is to provide content that cannot be found anywhere else, and reach the widest possible audience globally with the help of new technology and media. It is going to be mostly sports from around the world but packaged and delivered differently.
Question: The eagle is blessed with keen vision, where do you expect this station to be in ten years? Am asking about your long-term corporate objectives?
Answer: To get to where no other radio station has been in history and to take radio sports broadcasting to new heights. The world is a different place now and with technology, a radio station in 10 years’ time shall be a combination of audio and video. That is where we are heading.
Question: How is the Segun Odegbami International College of Sports doing?
Answer: It is doing fine, almost on autopilot now, with an administrator that absolutely captures the original vision of the academy and is running with it smoothly. Many of the graduates of the school are in American Colleges and Universities, studying and playing their sport on scholarships.
Question: Now, to other issues. What exactly is responsible for the early exit of the Super Eagles after such a successful first round run?
Answer: A little bit ill-luck, playing with 10 players against an organised team, and not having a consistent goalscorer to finish up moves in front of goal. But it was more about just being unlucky on the night.
Question: As an advocate for the appointment of ex-Internationals, as coaches, do you still hold this view after Coach Eguaveon’s performance?
Answer: Given the circumstances, Eguavoen did a great job bringing back some organisation and fire into a team that had been playing without pattern or style.
His case cannot be a case for all ex-internationals, but that is the stock from which great coaches can be got. You can’t teach what you do not know.
Thanks for the opportunity to talk to you. You are welcome, Ladi.
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