When I Dreamt in Football---the Echoes of My Childhood Dreams

When we were all kids or let me say teenagers, sometimes, we visualise some things that are not possible which usually makes children an architect in the world of the impossible. We have this wild and fresh dreams that is untouched by the reality of life of stadium and stages, of crowns and capes. I am not left out because I also dreamt of becoming footballer.

It was not about the game alone. It was all about the feeling.

I remember back in the neighborhood, it was always in the evening when all the kids assemble, dust filled in the air, the sun setting behind the roof tops, me and my barefoot always chasing the ball round the sandy fields like it was the was the champions league final. For me back then, it was just running across the field, it was a dream — a passion. Dribbling like Jay-Jay Okocha. Scoring like Cristiano Ronaldo. Winning tournaments like Messi and celebrating like Roger Milla. Becoming a teenager whose name will the celebrated and echoed round the pitch.

It was indeed all I could think about, infact my heartbeat.

And the, the thing will call really of life happened. Life happened to me. As I became much older, stage by stage the more I began to see things from different perspectives. pay attention and focus on your book, they said. "playing football is not certain." And honestly, the goal, the dreams began to feel unaffordable — like a luxury. The beautiful game began to take a slide back to survival as there were responsibilities, bills, demands and expectations.

The only thing I did was that I gave up believing and accepting that playing football could be my life..I never stopped loving the game.

The diversion gave me another purpose though it was something that was heartfelt but powerful. Sometimes, when we let go of some things, it is not because we were wrong, it is just that it is time to abandon it because it is not being supported by the world. For a dream to flourish, it needs a fertile soil so it can germinate well, mine was not fertile enough.

If I can travel in time to pursue that dream once more, I will gladly do that a million times over and over again. Not because of the game that comes with it or foutune, but because it is part of me. It is in me, the dream gives me purpose, sense of belonging and the ultimate joy when I do it.

Well, does dream have to die? What if they can get evolve. Just thinking about it, maybe, just maybe.

Today, If I have to opportunity to play football, I do not exhitate. I teach my niece on how to play football because they love it too and I share with them the stories of sandy and dusty field — running across the field bear footed because, if I am not opportuned to play the game at the top level, maybe I can inspire someone to do so.

And in this manner, maybe... I am still living the dream.

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Thank for reading.

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