Bada Akintunde Johnson is without doubt a household name in Nigeria's sports broadcasting industry. With his confident and charming voic...
Bada Akintunde Johnson is without doubt a household name in Nigeria's sports broadcasting industry.
With his confident and charming voice, great looks and wonderful stage presence, he warms his way into the hearts of his listeners, viewers and audience earning him an enviable reputation as an on air personality, TV Presenter and a sports director.
Who is Mr Bada Akintunde Johnson?
With his confident and charming voice, great looks and wonderful stage presence, he warms his way into the hearts of his listeners, viewers and audience earning him an enviable reputation as an on air personality, TV Presenter and a sports director.
He started out his career at the press club in his secondary school before getting an opportunity on Galaxy TV and then he took it from there. He’s famously known for being a pundit on HiSoccer; a sports channel on HiTV back then alongside Biola Kazeem and Temisan Okomi. He is also into radio presenting.
Apart from having a career in sports, Mr Bada is also involved in many other things like music, public speaking and he is currently the deputy creative director in one of Nigeria’s biggest advertising agencies.
In this exclusive interview, he speaks about his childhood dream of becoming a footballer,hobbies, all time greatest eleven in football and many more.
Who is Mr Bada Akintunde Johnson?
Well, Bada Akintunde Johnson is a human being to start with *laughs*, easy going, super driven, highly enthusiastic individual who lives a very fun filled and exciting life. My life is all about doing the things that I love and putting smiles on people’s faces through some of the things I love to do.
Have you always nurtured the dream of being a sports presenter or you had a different childhood dream?
In all honesty, my biggest ambition growing up was to become a footballer and I pursued it with every ounce of blood in my body. I played for youth clubs, enrolled in the Pepsi football academy and was there for many years as a striker.
Er’m but unfortunately, to some extent, I felt I probably didn't have the requisite level of talent to make it at the highest level but I wasn't a bad footballer. I went to one of the most competitive schools in sports (Keke high school) and I played for the school from my senior secondary school days. But I then had a cruciate ligament injury while I was in SS3 and that time the doctors that treated me just administered normal pain killers which reduced the pains and I thought that was the end of it. It was many years later how found out how bad it was and I was on medication up on till 2011 so that pretty much took the wind out of my ambition.
Although I still played football after the injury, I couldn't play it at a very high intensity because I couldn't swing my right foot as much I should due to the injury.
Furthermore, when I got into the university (University of Ibadan) and I couldn't train like I used to because the Pepsi football academy center was very far from my school but I went on to play for my department and won several trophies as the captain. I had to drop to become a defensive midfielder because of the injury as I could no longer run and shoot as a striker should anymore.
Furthermore, when I got into the university (University of Ibadan) and I couldn't train like I used to because the Pepsi football academy center was very far from my school but I went on to play for my department and won several trophies as the captain. I had to drop to become a defensive midfielder because of the injury as I could no longer run and shoot as a striker should anymore.
Your Journey Into Stardom, How did it all Start?
My flare for talking sports as always been there. When I was in the press club back then in secondary school and I always wanted to cast the sports news. I and one of my friends were the authority in football in my school. If a match was played, both the teachers and students knew whom to ask. I started actively buying football magazines way back in 1988 even before I was 10. I spent all of my pocket money buying those magazines.
I have every edition of complete football magazine that has ever been published in my library of football materials till date!
After I graduated, I worked at NTA Enugu and did a bit of sports presenting there before returning to Lagos. My first job was on Galaxy TV as a presenter and producer of sports shows... then the rest as they say is history. I pretty much with everybody in the football landscape in Nigeria except Supersport.
Let’s jump into your private life now, how did you and your wife meet?
In 2007, I was working in an advertising agency on the island and she was in her final year in school. She and 6 of her friends were advertising students that were sent to my agency to do so work so I was attached to take them round the agency and I took naturally liking for her. We became friends and then we took it from there.
What does she do?
She is a public relation executive even though right now she’s not in the country. She’s also into blogging; she runs a blog called er’m gistonly.com I think, let me check. (Checks, and realizes he is wrong) I’m not sure about the URL of the site right now. Ah! I hope she doesn't read this. *Laughs* She also sells women and kiddies stuff.
We know that women are not big fans of football, how does she cope with the demands of your career?
She’s not a football fan at all but she can tolerate it to a certain degree. She was not into football at all before she we met but because of me, she developed that tolerance level for football. She won’t seat in front of TV to watch a full game but if she is around me, particularly when Arsenal is playing and they score, she will look at it and when they beat us she will yab me but she will prefer watching a movie instead of football.
If you are not talking football, what else do you do?
As I said to you earlier, I’m at eclectic person; a man of many sides. A lot of people don’t realize but I've got a job outside of football. I've done music professionally as well. I did put out albums in a boyhood band back then. We didn't exactly hit prominence but in our own little way, we were good. The group was called “Nature”. We worked with the likes of Paul IK Dairo who produced our first album in 1999 before I switched over to gospel music. I was involved in my school choir and I still sing.
I started singing as early as age 12. I used to perform at carols, classical and was earning money. I couldn't just waste that side of me and that is why today I’m the deputy creative director in one of Nigeria’s advertising agency. That’s my bread and butter. Lol. So if I’m not watching football, I’m listening to music or creating adverts for some of Nigeria’s biggest brand like GLO, Exxon Mobil, Guinness and many more.
Are you involved in any other job aside football journalism?
My job is that of a creative person but I’m also a sports media entrepreneur. People want to say I’m a journalist and I’m quick to correct them. I have properties of my own on radio and a few very soon on TV. I've got two shows on radio final score on city FM from 6:15-6:30 daily and the other one is football hangout on radio continental from 8:00-8:30pm; those are my shows. That’s why I’m a sports media entrepreneur/football presenter and analyst so it’s a full package all together.
Let’s talk about Nigerian football now, what’s your take on our local league? The sponsorship, management and funding?
Sure, we will never run out of talents in Nigeria; we are naturally blessed and I feel that if our local league was better organized, we probably will be rivaling the likes of Germany, Spain in terms of the quality and quantity of talents coming in. But because as Nigerians almost by default, we are poor administrators and organizers, our football has suffered.
We run football like an extension of government. Majority of the clubs in Nigeria are owned by the Government. It’s an aberration and should never happen. They should be owned by private individuals. The way Etisalat, MTN run that’s how football clubs are meant to operate. That’s how it is done abroad and until we break away from the laziness, we can’t progress.
I say laziness because those clubs collect easy money from the government and hence don’t have to be profitable. They just sit there and complain meanwhile players are not paid well, teams cannot afford to fly to match venues; they will rather take night buses and subject themselves to all kinds of dangers, risks, fatigues and all what not.
But the good news is that, things are getting better especially with the league management now running the affairs of the league.
Do you see the league as a breeding ground for talents?
Yes, I feel that the talents will begin to influence the quality of our national team as they already are and they can even add to a much higher degree when the quality of the local league improves. I also have to point out that in achieving this, we have to go back to the grassroots. In countries like Spain Germany and France they play about 30,000 youth grade matches every weekend to fish out those young talents coming up. This is something we must emulate. We have to break away from the apron strings of government and run football as a private business to make profit. That is the only way cooperate organisations and private businesses can be attracted to the league.
You must have a soft spot for a particular club, can we know their name?
I support Arsenal football club and Enyimba of Aba particularly during their dominance era in the early 2000s. I had an opportunity to see one of their games live in Aba in the CAF Champions league back in 2004 and it was a memorable experience.
You seem to excel in both Television and Radio presenting, how do you merge both and keep up with the demands?
I guess its a combination of natural talent and training Like I said I’m a trained broadcaster, studied broadcasting and advertising in school and post-graduation I was trained to be a presenter. I went to a diction school as well so it comes naturally, I understand the ethics and principles of the profession.
Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?
In the next 10 years, I hope to have one of the biggest sports consultancies companies in Africa. I hope to have my own radio and TV station. I want to become a media mogul.
In the immediate future?
I've got two TV projects ahead of the World cup. They are still in the works presently and I am doing it in conjunction with some powerful media companies (myself and my partner Biola Kazeem). We also want to be more visible online by launching a football website very soon.
If you were asked to select your greatest eleven of all time, which players will you pick?
My best goal keeper of all time will be Oliver Khan, yep. Although I love Andreas Kopke as well; the former German national goal keeper.
I've always had a liking for Germany goalkeepers but of all of them, Oliver Khan has to be the best for me.
At right back, it will be very difficult not to pick Cafu. I've had a thing for Brazilian right backs because of their attacking value. They could bump forward and also due their defensive duties. Lillian Thuram will run in close but I will go for Cafu.
At left back, no point Roberto Carlos *laughs*
My center halves, you gotta put Franco Baresi in there; the legendary Italian defender. The second centre back will be err *hesitates for a while* Marcio Santos of the USA 94 Brazilian team. He was graceful, strong in tackles, and could play the ball from the back.
At defensive midfield I will go for the very much understated Claude Makelele over Patrick Veira.
A lot of people did not pay attention to the work that he did because he was a player who did his job quietly but very efficiently.
A lot of people did not pay attention to the work that he did because he was a player who did his job quietly but very efficiently.
Real Madrid sold him to Chelsea and almost collapsed because they took for granted the great work that he contributed to the team.
At right side of midfield, I will put Michel Platini with Pele on the left. They may not be suited to play in those positions but I just had to put them there so that they can make my team.
My attacking two will be Ronaldo and Messi and my playmaker will be Maradona. Yohann Cryuff will manage the team for me
Your greatest manager of all time?
Let me name my best 5. Number one will have to be Yohann Cruff, followed by Louis Van Gaal, Arsene Wenger, Pep Guardiola and lastly Vincete Bosque and I will tell you why. These guys are the apostles of beautiful football and I love beautiful football which why I will support Arsenal till I die whether they win trophies or not except if they club goes into an era where premium is not placed on beautiful football anymore. They club has a philosophy and a brand that is famed for which suits me.I don’t like teams that win ugly.
Louis Van Gaal was fantastic with the ‘95 and ‘96 Ajax team that Kanu and Finidi George played for. They dominated and battered their opponents anyhow playing beautiful football. That was when I came in contact with the word utopia meaning “football paradise” that was how one of the coaches of the team which they beat mercilessly into submission described the football they played. *Laughs*
Arsenal Wenger for assembling the immortals of course; they played some exciting football; he made Thierry Henry and he turned out to be one of the most exciting players ever to have played the game
Pep Guardiola of course for obvious reasons; his Barcelona team won 14 trophies in 4 years playing the best football we've seen in recent times. it was hypnotic; you had no answer to it
Vicente Del Bosque while he was at Real Madrid in 2002; he won the champions league and was sacked. He then took over the national team after they won the Euros in 2008. Why I respect him the much is the way he manages to keep that hunger going despite all his achievements and to have the boldness to have experimented the 4-6-0 false 9 system which won the Euros 2012 for Spain.
Lastly, what message would you want to leave for your fans out there?
I want to believe that I do have some people I can call fans out there and I will like to say a big thank you for all the support over the years. It is always touching when I’m walking down the street and people will be like, “Kudos I love what you are doing’.
I appreciate all your feedback on Facebook and Twitter. You keep the fire burning. Sometimes the body is weak but when you remember the people you are doing it for, you get up and keep going. Some folks will say the motivation is the money we receive but it’s much more than that; it’s about putting smiles on peoples’ faces.
I appreciate all your feedback on Facebook and Twitter. You keep the fire burning. Sometimes the body is weak but when you remember the people you are doing it for, you get up and keep going. Some folks will say the motivation is the money we receive but it’s much more than that; it’s about putting smiles on peoples’ faces.
And then to the young people coming up, Nigeria is a difficult country but you can allow that to frustrate your dreams. I won’t say I am successful because that word “success” is relative. For some building a house or buying a car is success. For me success is a never ending journey. Every finish line is the beginning of another race. I never look at the achievement of yesterday and that is how you can succeed in a country like ours. You've got to be bold, brave, dogged and work really hard. That is why we are here, to add value to humanity and make people enjoy better lives till we become sophisticated like the media in the UK.
And to you (referring to me) I must say I am impressed, sometimes when I see some of your tweets about football I asked myself “what is the motivation for this young man?” because there are loads of people out there that can’t really sort out their heads and don’t know what they want to do. So it helps that so early you have clear ideas as to how you want to live your life. It’s priceless; not everybody has that gift so don’t lose it. Keep the fire burning! The reward might not be instant but it is there. It’s all a matter a time
Thank you very much sir. It was nice talking to you!
If you have any question you would like to ask him, kindly comment below or
If you have any question you would like to ask him, kindly comment below or
You can follow him on twitter Follow @badaAkintundeJ
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