Nigerian Flavours And Coaching Dreams

Musbahu Tajadeen, Qatar

Musbahu “TJ” Tajadeen is a Generation Amazing coach from Nigeria, who plays and coaches football in the Qatar Community Football League. As part of the GOALS program, TJ tells the story of his football career in Nigeria, overcoming difficult challenges through coaching, and his passion for music.

My name is Musbahu Tajadeen, but I go by “TJ”. I was born in Lagos, Nigeria and grew up in Alausa Ikeja in Lagos state. I love football, and I love music. In primary school, I tried to be the best at everything; football, basketball, and especially music.

In secondary school, I became a backup singer for my friends and their band. I began rapping, singing, and producing music. It was so natural to me. I would write about love and everyday life, but mostly about girls. I was so shy and scared to talk to them, but suddenly girls told me I had a good vibe; they were approaching me!

From secondary school, I began to be invited to clubs and started getting paid for music. Being paid for what I love; it was incredible. We did not get paid much, but that did not matter. My group was the warm-up act for local performers.

While the world of music was opening up to me, my focus was still on education, and it was football that was helping me achieve my educational goals. I played football from a very early age, received coaching from 11, and it quickly became one of my outstanding talents. This gave me a very exciting scholarship to Bayero University Kano (BUK). For myself and my family, this was a significant achievement. All my school expenses were covered.

Again, I was doing what I loved, but it was football helping me move forward in life. I was invited to play for Zamfara United. I was 16, and the coach played me in the first team. I was an attacking midfielder, and it went so well that by 17, I was recruited by a bigger team called Crown FC in the Nigerian National League.

Coach Oladuni Oyekale gave me my first start for Crown FC and played a vital role in my football career. He is currently the assistant coach of the Nigeria national Under-20 team!

When I became a professional footballer, they told me to give up on music as I needed to focus on football. So I gave it up. It was the right decision at the time. By the time I was 19, I had been offered an opportunity to move to Doha and play for Al Rayyan.

Unfortunately, the offer was fake, and I ended up working in security for a construction company to pay back the debt I had paid my Nigerian agent, who is now in jail. I was so stressed that I could not sleep, and all I could do was work.

Despite the scam, I decided to see it as a challenge for a man who is trying to make his life better. Due to my education I was able to start working in the security department as an admin assistant. Then my manager got promoted to HR manager and took me with him!

During this time, I could not even think about writing music. I was just focused on settling in this new place. In terms of football, I needed to stay in Doha for five years before I could sign up for a professional team. However, I continued on my football journey as best I could. My aim switched to becoming a professional coach, which was always a dream for me once my playing career was over.

I started a regular football match in my workers’ accommodation, and someone reported us for the noise we were making!

My manager asked me, “is it true you’re playing football every night?”

I told him we were and he said, “OK, I will request we get a football pitch built here.”

In 2016 we played in the Worker's Cup organized by the Supreme Committee, and we joined a league in 2017. This same year, I was introduced to Generation Amazing, who helped with my desire to become a coach. They had heard my story of starting football games in my accommodation and wanted to support me in making this a football for development program.

I am grateful to Generation Amazing, as I have achieved so much with them. My company team has risen from the second division to the Premier League of the QCFL (Qatar Community Football League) here in Doha, and I have also obtained my AFC D License to be a coach. As a coach I am very disciplined and want to see my players improving each day.

My girlfriend Yvonne was the one who helped me find my path back to music. Yvonne heard me singing and said, “You know TJ, you have such a nice voice. You need to make music.” She kept encouraging me, and I started writing music again and eventually got back into the studio. When I returned to the studio, the producer said:

"If you had been doing this since 2014, you would be a big shot by now".

I am very happy that during the World Cup, I have been invited by the African community to perform in fan zones and other places. I am a solo artist, but I am trying to arrange a dance group to support me.

Music has meant so much to me throughout my life. It is the place where I express my feelings, where I share my story. Music drives away my sorrows; it is the vehicle for my emotions. Music helps me forget my worries, and it helps me celebrate my joy.

Music takes me home to Nigeria, even when I am far away. My music style is RnB and hip hop with a Nigerian flavor. I have a lot of Nigerian flavors!

Music and football have been pillars throughout my life. They make me who I am and I will never give up on my dreams for either of them.

It is a privilege to be in a country that will host the World Cup, especially in a region that will be hosting for the very first time. Unforgettable memories will happen for sure. Now that Nigeria is not playing in the World Cup, I will support Qatar!