17/06/2025
The Boy Who Carried His Shoes”
In a small village in southern Rivercess, there lived a boy named Garplejay. He had one dream to become a professional footballer. Every day, he would wake up before dawn, carry his old, torn shoes in his hands, and walk barefoot to a nearby field. Not because he wanted to, but because the soles of the shoes were nearly gone, and he didn’t want them to fall apart before practice.
Kids laughed at him. Coaches overlooked him. But he kept going. Rain or shine, he showed up. He wasn’t the fastest. He wasn’t the strongest. But he was the most consistent.
One day, a scout came to town. A small local tournament was happening, and most of the top boys had new kits and fresh boots. Garplejay wore a borrowed jersey, laced up his nearly dead shoes, and played like his life depended on it.
He didn’t score a goal. But he hustled every minute, made critical passes, and helped his team win. The scout noticed.
Weeks later, Taye was invited to a youth camp in the city, no money, no transport. His mother gave him her market savings. He took a taxi, arrived late, and the coach almost sent him away. But after watching him touch the ball, the coach said:
“This one? He plays with heart. Let him stay.”
Years passed. Garplejay climbed the ranks. He faced injuries, setbacks, rejection, but never stopped. Today, that boy who once carried his shoes to the field plays for a national club. His story is taught in schools, not because he was the most talented, but because he refused to give up.
Moral:
You don’t need perfect conditions to succeed. You just need heart, discipline, and the refusal to quit when life gets hard.