09/12/2023
In my entire life, I have never seen someone as affable as the achaba/okada man that took me home from Muda Lawal market, yesterday.
I'm the type that, irrespective of the topic of discussion, no matter how much Okada riders try, I hardly engage them in conversations. Most times, I put on my headset to avoid any conversation with them.
How the man of yesterday was able to strike up a conversation with me and made me feel at ease with him, is something I like about him.
The man was so jovial and inquisitive about me, and to my greatest surprise, I opened up on something to him, which I'm glad I did.
He told me how, 4 out of 6 of them who grew up together, are now living a life worthy to be proud of, while he and the other sixth person are still struggling.
According to him, he will be 38 years old by June next year, but he has no house or any tangible job to show off. Even the bike he is riding is not his, and no school certificate greater than SSCE.
This man I'm talking about has 2 kids and a wife to cater for at home.
Part of his story that got me is the place where he says, 'he pursued a career in football for 14 years'.
He went for trials at so many places within the country, but he wasn't picked.
He came close to making it when he went to South Africa for a trial, where he spent 3 weeks there.
According to him, he prepared his entire career for the South African trial and gave his best, but only to watch as others who were not as talented as him got picked over him.
Just when he was about to tell me more, we reached my destination and he dropped me there, we then both went our separate ways.
Truth is, there are a lot of young boys in our areas, streets and cities that if not told the truth, might end up regretting like this man.
Football is not your career until you have finally made a life through the sport.
Just like in other fields, you need money to catalyze your footballing career, too.
You need money to buy boots, jerseys, and other equipment and also register for some trials.
You need money to register and take yourself to some auditions, in which great scouts will be in attendance.
Above all, you need money to sort out agents.
You might be more talented than most players in a football Academy or your local clubs, but when opportunities come, don't be surprised if you see other less talented players being picked ahead of you. It's no voodoo, they usually pay their way out of the Academy.
So, this is what you should do as someone who has a passion for football and a desire to play it professionally.
First, go to school, and then learn a skill.
When you have a source of income, you can then use the money you're getting with your certificate or handwork to fuel your football career.
Try it at most, twice or thrice, and if you don't make it, just try and focus on other careers.
Sometimes, no matter how talented or hard-working you can be, you may simply not have the right combination of skill, luck, and opportunity to make it in football. It's important to recognize that and move on and focus on other things.
It's always important to chase your dreams and give them your all, we know that. But also, it's important to have a realistic understanding of what success might look like.
Occasionally, it might just not be in the cards, and that's okay. It's better to accept that and move on to something else than to spend years chasing a goal that may never be attainable. You're not a failure, you're just a wise person trying to utilize time and opportunities. Shalom! 💦💙
In the picture is just normal Bajimi Silver Lois stressing the life of an innocent boy, called Atvan Of Bauchi. 😁
