Compiled by TangaSports
El Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri speed star, Bello Kofarmata, in an exclusive interview with Sports Track WhatsApp platform on Sunday, has said that it's a great experience to play for the national team. He said a lot of players wants to play for the national teams but they didn't get the chance to do so but thank God for the opportunity given to him.
Bello is one of the most travelled npfl players and has been in the terrain for almost a decade representing the likes of Kano Pillars, Heartland, FC Ifeanyi Ubah and currently plying his trade with the Desert Forces of Maiduguri and has won three npfl titles and three federation Cups in his stint
with Pillars, Headland and Ifeanyi Ubah thereby making him one of the most successful domestic players of his generation.
The former Nigerian U-20 striker also spoke on his blossoming career, life after football and his target ahead of the upcoming npfl season.
Read the full interview bellow with Chinedu Otutubuike, also known as Nedum.
ST: I will like you to tell us more about yourself briefly.
BK: Bello Kofar Mata My name is bello Musa Kofarmata. I was born in one an area called Kofarmata, in Kano state.
ST: How did you start playing football?
BK: I started with Pepsi academy.
ST: Then after you learnt the basics of football in Pepsi academy in kano which club was your next point of call?
BK: After Pepsi academy, I moved to one local club in Kano, called Marseille from there I proceed to Kano Hilton where I worked with Abdu Maikaba as my coach I had a good time with the team I was their highest goal scorer from there I moved to Buffalo FC together with maikaba we did very well with the team.
ST: Based on your beginning as a youth player, you played for kano Hilton fc and worked with coach Abdul Maikaba can you briefly tell us other players you also played with in Buffalo fc?
BK: Yes, I played with the likes of Gambo Mohammed Nazifi Ammani.
ST: I knew you played for kano pillars fc how did it happen?
BK: Honestly when I was with Buffalo FC, I became a superstar in the team that makes many clubs to become interested in signing me but at that moment, the chairman of the team refuse to sell me because he wants me to play in Europe. He took me and Maikaba to France where I trained with Lille fc.
ST: How did you sign for kano pillars fc?
BK: I signed for Kano pillars when I returned back from Paris France.
ST: You also played for the Nigerian national teams, under 17, 20 and the super eagles. What was the experience like to serve the nation?
BK: Is a great experience for me alot of players want to play for the national teams but they didn't get the chance to do so but I thank God for the opportunities, is great experience.
ST: You grew up in Kano but you played for Heartland fc of Owerri. How was the experience spending years in owerri?
BK: Wow, Heartland is one of the best clubs I played in and I enjoyed staying in Owerri because everybody likes me there because I did well.
ST: How can you rate the npfl for the past four seasons?
BK: Honestly the npfl is always Improving unlike before but there is still room for improvement.
ST: Also how would you describe our teams technically, like our coaches?
BK: All the teams I know have good players but they need to take instructions from their coaches as well.
ST: As a player who has witnessed the changes in the NPFL over the past 10 years. What will you say is the major thing that has changed? Is it the jersey's,money paid to players,how tougher games are and all that.
BK: The officiating has improved unlike before and the money reduced because when we use to collected sign on fees we collected big money but now if you calculate your one year salary, you will see that it will not reach what we are collecting when as before when sign on fees is involved.
ST: How do you describe games these days mostly on away fixtures?
BK: As I said earlier, the officiating in away games has improve greatly but not hundred percent.
ST: What advice do you have for LMC in terms of players/club wages issue?
BK: My advice to LCM is, I knew they are trying their best but they need to force clubs to respect players contract.
ST: Now can we also talk about fans conduct during games.
Last season we had series of fans misconduct in some match venues match officials were attacked what do you think is the cause and also the solution as a player?
BK: I think is the responsibility of the teams to provide more security during the match days.
ST: Back to you now as a player. Who was your toughest opponent in the npfl?
BK: I think is Chinedu Udoji. Because, we always fight if we face each other.
ST: Who is your Role model?
BK: Eden Hazard.
ST: What is your biggest fear as a footballer, Losing your place in a team or your team losing a match?
BK: Am unhappy if I lose a match or I lose my place in the team but what will get you back to the team is hard work, prayers and patient.
ST: You have won the league with Kano pillars fc and Federation cup, (aiteo cup), with Heartland fc. What keeps you going to play in the npfl?
BK: Yes I won 3 league titles with pillars and won aiteo cups, 3 times, 2 with heartland and 1 with ifeanyi ubah. I think am one of the most successful players in Nigerian league. I traveled to many countries and I came back but maybe this is not my time to play abroad but when my time comes, I must go there and play and I knew it will come.
ST: Who is your favourite player in the npfl?
BK: Bello kofarmata.
ST: Briefly, tell us your best five defenders in the npfl you have played against?
BK: Ike Thank God, Festus nickname, Agada, Chinedu Udoji.
ST: 2 more names to go... ....
BK: Lucky Erimiya from El kanemi and Adeleye from fc Ifeanyi Ubah.
ST: What special thing do you think you need to do to get back into the national team?
BK: I think we have a new coach, imama, a great coach with a lot of new players and most of them are foreigners. I think is to perform very well in the new season and to help my team get continental ticket first.
ST: You have been around for a while and should be nearing the peak of your career. What plans do you have for life after football?
BK: I have concluded my diploma from Kano state polythecnic were I read business administration. I'm think I planning to be a business man in the future.
ST: I know you are married. What is your advice to fellow players who are single?
BK: I think is better for them to marry early.
ST: El kanemi warriors is your team. Do you think the team have been an instrumental in restoring peace to Maiduguri and environs?
BK: I think so because everybody in Maiduguri likes to watch El kanemi matches.
ST: Before we draw up the curtain, what is your target with El kanemi warriors for next season with the arrival of coach imama and some new players to the team?
BK: I think our aspiration this season is to win the league or to get a continental ticket and I bet you, it will happen because government of Borno state is very much ready ahead of the new season.
ST: What is your advice for younger players in the npfl?
BK: What happen to them is that, when a young players sign for a premier league team, most of them are eager to play matches and the problem is that, they lack the experience and cannot give their hundred percent at the end. I think they have to be patient to gain more experience first.
ST: Who is your best Nigeria striker ever?
BK: Late Rashidi Yekini.
ST: Best goalkeeper ever?
BK: Imama Amapakabo.
ST: Best Nigeria team, ( national team), which tournament and year?
BK: I think Atlanta 1996 and USA 1994.
ST: Your favourite national team player ever?
BK: Daniel Amokachi and Garba Lawal before, now Shehu Abdullahi and Ahmed Musa, my ex teammates.
ST: Finally if I would give you a football boot as a gift what is your size and which brand would you prefer?
BK: My size is 42 Or size 8.
For the brand, I prefer Nike or Adidas.
ST: Mr Bello kofar mata thank you for your time despite a tight preseason games during the week and we so much appreciate your efforts. I wish you and your team El kanemi warriors fc a successful season. We wish to have u here again some other time.
BK: Thank you so much, I really appreciate.
El Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri speed star, Bello Kofarmata, in an exclusive interview with Sports Track WhatsApp platform on Sunday, has said that it's a great experience to play for the national team. He said a lot of players wants to play for the national teams but they didn't get the chance to do so but thank God for the opportunity given to him.
Bello is one of the most travelled npfl players and has been in the terrain for almost a decade representing the likes of Kano Pillars, Heartland, FC Ifeanyi Ubah and currently plying his trade with the Desert Forces of Maiduguri and has won three npfl titles and three federation Cups in his stint
The former Nigerian U-20 striker also spoke on his blossoming career, life after football and his target ahead of the upcoming npfl season.
Read the full interview bellow with Chinedu Otutubuike, also known as Nedum.
ST: I will like you to tell us more about yourself briefly.
BK: Bello Kofar Mata My name is bello Musa Kofarmata. I was born in one an area called Kofarmata, in Kano state.
ST: How did you start playing football?
BK: I started with Pepsi academy.
ST: Then after you learnt the basics of football in Pepsi academy in kano which club was your next point of call?
BK: After Pepsi academy, I moved to one local club in Kano, called Marseille from there I proceed to Kano Hilton where I worked with Abdu Maikaba as my coach I had a good time with the team I was their highest goal scorer from there I moved to Buffalo FC together with maikaba we did very well with the team.
ST: Based on your beginning as a youth player, you played for kano Hilton fc and worked with coach Abdul Maikaba can you briefly tell us other players you also played with in Buffalo fc?
BK: Yes, I played with the likes of Gambo Mohammed Nazifi Ammani.
ST: I knew you played for kano pillars fc how did it happen?
BK: Honestly when I was with Buffalo FC, I became a superstar in the team that makes many clubs to become interested in signing me but at that moment, the chairman of the team refuse to sell me because he wants me to play in Europe. He took me and Maikaba to France where I trained with Lille fc.
ST: How did you sign for kano pillars fc?
BK: I signed for Kano pillars when I returned back from Paris France.
ST: You also played for the Nigerian national teams, under 17, 20 and the super eagles. What was the experience like to serve the nation?
BK: Is a great experience for me alot of players want to play for the national teams but they didn't get the chance to do so but I thank God for the opportunities, is great experience.
ST: You grew up in Kano but you played for Heartland fc of Owerri. How was the experience spending years in owerri?
BK: Wow, Heartland is one of the best clubs I played in and I enjoyed staying in Owerri because everybody likes me there because I did well.
ST: How can you rate the npfl for the past four seasons?
BK: Honestly the npfl is always Improving unlike before but there is still room for improvement.
ST: Also how would you describe our teams technically, like our coaches?
BK: All the teams I know have good players but they need to take instructions from their coaches as well.
ST: As a player who has witnessed the changes in the NPFL over the past 10 years. What will you say is the major thing that has changed? Is it the jersey's,money paid to players,how tougher games are and all that.
BK: The officiating has improved unlike before and the money reduced because when we use to collected sign on fees we collected big money but now if you calculate your one year salary, you will see that it will not reach what we are collecting when as before when sign on fees is involved.
ST: How do you describe games these days mostly on away fixtures?
BK: As I said earlier, the officiating in away games has improve greatly but not hundred percent.
ST: What advice do you have for LMC in terms of players/club wages issue?
BK: My advice to LCM is, I knew they are trying their best but they need to force clubs to respect players contract.
ST: Now can we also talk about fans conduct during games.
Last season we had series of fans misconduct in some match venues match officials were attacked what do you think is the cause and also the solution as a player?
BK: I think is the responsibility of the teams to provide more security during the match days.
ST: Back to you now as a player. Who was your toughest opponent in the npfl?
BK: I think is Chinedu Udoji. Because, we always fight if we face each other.
ST: Who is your Role model?
BK: Eden Hazard.
ST: What is your biggest fear as a footballer, Losing your place in a team or your team losing a match?
BK: Am unhappy if I lose a match or I lose my place in the team but what will get you back to the team is hard work, prayers and patient.
ST: You have won the league with Kano pillars fc and Federation cup, (aiteo cup), with Heartland fc. What keeps you going to play in the npfl?
BK: Yes I won 3 league titles with pillars and won aiteo cups, 3 times, 2 with heartland and 1 with ifeanyi ubah. I think am one of the most successful players in Nigerian league. I traveled to many countries and I came back but maybe this is not my time to play abroad but when my time comes, I must go there and play and I knew it will come.
ST: Who is your favourite player in the npfl?
BK: Bello kofarmata.
ST: Briefly, tell us your best five defenders in the npfl you have played against?
BK: Ike Thank God, Festus nickname, Agada, Chinedu Udoji.
ST: 2 more names to go... ....
BK: Lucky Erimiya from El kanemi and Adeleye from fc Ifeanyi Ubah.
ST: What special thing do you think you need to do to get back into the national team?
BK: I think we have a new coach, imama, a great coach with a lot of new players and most of them are foreigners. I think is to perform very well in the new season and to help my team get continental ticket first.
ST: You have been around for a while and should be nearing the peak of your career. What plans do you have for life after football?
BK: I have concluded my diploma from Kano state polythecnic were I read business administration. I'm think I planning to be a business man in the future.
ST: I know you are married. What is your advice to fellow players who are single?
BK: I think is better for them to marry early.
ST: El kanemi warriors is your team. Do you think the team have been an instrumental in restoring peace to Maiduguri and environs?
BK: I think so because everybody in Maiduguri likes to watch El kanemi matches.
ST: Before we draw up the curtain, what is your target with El kanemi warriors for next season with the arrival of coach imama and some new players to the team?
BK: I think our aspiration this season is to win the league or to get a continental ticket and I bet you, it will happen because government of Borno state is very much ready ahead of the new season.
ST: What is your advice for younger players in the npfl?
BK: What happen to them is that, when a young players sign for a premier league team, most of them are eager to play matches and the problem is that, they lack the experience and cannot give their hundred percent at the end. I think they have to be patient to gain more experience first.
ST: Who is your best Nigeria striker ever?
BK: Late Rashidi Yekini.
ST: Best goalkeeper ever?
BK: Imama Amapakabo.
ST: Best Nigeria team, ( national team), which tournament and year?
BK: I think Atlanta 1996 and USA 1994.
ST: Your favourite national team player ever?
BK: Daniel Amokachi and Garba Lawal before, now Shehu Abdullahi and Ahmed Musa, my ex teammates.
ST: Finally if I would give you a football boot as a gift what is your size and which brand would you prefer?
BK: My size is 42 Or size 8.
For the brand, I prefer Nike or Adidas.
ST: Mr Bello kofar mata thank you for your time despite a tight preseason games during the week and we so much appreciate your efforts. I wish you and your team El kanemi warriors fc a successful season. We wish to have u here again some other time.
BK: Thank you so much, I really appreciate.
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