Rise of a Football God-Chapter 287: Reminiscing the past

(Daily 9ja News:)

(Samuel Moses back to his roots!: The English football superstar, Samuel Moses went on a trip back to his roots in Abraka, Delta State in one of his memorable stops during the holiday period. Images and videos are attached=)

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(The Sun Newspaper:)

(Samuel Moses, the next Jay Jay Okocha?: The story of the premier league superstar is one filled with ups and downs, near-giving up moments and in all its complicated facets hide the resilience of Sam. He never gave up, read this article to learn the full story of Sam’s career=)

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(The Daily Guide:)

(Philanthropism in Abraka, Delta State: Samuel Moses goes back to his roots, organizing a charity football game to empower other teenagers like him who grew up in the streets of Abraka, aspiring to become professional football players like him. Details of the 1-game tournament are attached below=)

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Like expected, the next day, just as each of Sam’s actions since coming to Nigeria on his holiday were creating a storm, his visit to Abraka and subsequently organizing a charity game with Coach James also triggered a storm.

After the game, Sam, Emile Smith Rowe, Coach James, and Ian who later arrived in Abraka, joining them went to a restaurant to eat.

At the restaurant, they had a sumptuous meal, discussing different topics ranging from football to education even as Coach James was eager to speak, highlighting how much Sam’s life changed in such a long time.

"He may not look like it," Sam chuckled, looking at Emile Smith Rowe. "But he is my very first coach".

"Stop flattering me". Coach James blushed. "I can barely qualify as a coach".

Sam shook his head. "I’m serious, that Christmas game that you organized back then literally changed my life".

"Without it," he relaxed on his chair, looking around at the other people in this restaurant. "Maybe my life would have never changed. Maybe, I would still be in an obscure corner of Abraka, reading and trying hard to secure admission into the university". He chuckled.

"On any other day, I would have never got the opportunity to play before a coach of Yemi Daniels’ credentials at that point of my life".

"I just needed an opportunity to blossom and show my talent to the world, and Coach James gave me that opportunity".

"I won’t lie, that Christmas game that you organized changed my life".

Coach James smiled. "That’s enough praise for a guy like me; I feel like anymore praise would made my pride swell up". He joked, chuckling as the others laughed.

Coach James paid attention to Emile Smith Rowe. It took some time but he was finally getting comfortable before the Englishman.

He chuckled. "Don’t pay attention to him, Sam carried me as a coach. I didn’t even do anything that game, all I did was put him in the game and singlehandedly, he turned the game around, helping my team win".

"You’re not the only one then," Smith Rowe laughed. "He still does that today, even in a league as big as the premier league".

"Stop it!" Sam poked Smith Rowe’s arm, making him laugh.

At that moment, Ian spoke. "Talking of securing admission into a university," this scholar looked at his best friend. "Sam, you no longer want to go to school? At some point, you were really interested in getting a university certificate".

Hearing that, Sam looked at his best friend and chuckled. "That was then".

"Now, I’m pursuing my dream already".

He relaxed on his chair again. "Don’t get me wrong, getting a university certificate is important but at this point of my career, I just want to focus and improve it to build a lasting legacy in football".

Sam sighed, looking at the ceiling of this restaurant as his gaze became distant. "Ian…," he hesitated. "I want to be great".

He sighed, smiling. "I’ve always wanted to be great".

"I never had a chance to do it but now, I got my chance through what I love the most in the world, playing football".

"So…," he looked at Ian again. "I’ll seize my moment".

"20 years from now, I want to retire from football knowing that I was able to Lose Myself in the moment and seize glory with my 2 hands". He raised his hands, looking at them. "I truly want to be great".

"Damn, I can definitely hear Game of Thrones’ soundtrack playing in the background," Coach James joked. "But I believe you can do it Sam".

"You can build a legacy in football and in the Nigerian national team".

"Just know that no matter what happens, you have people who’ve got your back in the highs and the lows".

"I’ll forever be your number 1 Abraka supporter!" He boasted shamelessly, making the others laugh.

After that, they ate some more, fully enjoying their sumptuous meal before standing to leave. As they left, Sam typed Coach James’ phone number on his Guaranty Trust Bank account, correlating it with the coach’s bank account number.

He sent Coach James 10 million naira on the spot.

Ding!

When his phone pinged him and he looked at it, Coach James could not believe his eyes as they widened as wide as a funnel.

He thanked Sam profusely who accepted it.

After that, Sam requested of the local coach to help take Smith Rowe around the town and visit some places.

While Coach James readily agreed to do that, Sam finally had some much-needed alone time with his best friend as together, they strolled through the streets of Abraka.

"Just like old times, huh?" Ian chuckled.

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"Yeah," Sam nodded. "Just like old times".

They took their time, walking from one spot to another even as they went through the memory lane, reminiscing about the past.

They continued till they arrived at a building that held a lot of memories for both of them, Abraka Secondary School, the school where they both went to and completed their secondary school course.

"Nothing changed". Ian muttered.

Sam nodded, smiling. "Do you still remember that day?"

Ian looked at him. "What day?"

"The day when scouts from FC Barcelona came to Abraka to organize trials that to meet up, I had no choice but to sneak out of school before closure".

Sam chuckled, looking at his best friend. "That day, you had to cover for me before later meeting up with me at the DELSU field where the trials took place".

"I never told you then but thank you man". He patted his best friend’s back.

"In an ocean of unfamiliar faces, the mere sight of you among the sea of spectators gave me strength; strength to keep on going, strength to continue pursuing my dreams despite the daunting challenge ahead of me".

"That day, I put in a crazy performance to help my team win and you were the strength, the backbone that anchored me to keep me going".

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"I truly appreciate all of it man".

"Stop being embarrassing," Ian chuckled. "You’d do the same for me, right?"

"Definitely". Sam said without hesitation.

They stood, looking at the old school, and then Ian muttered. "If that day didn’t end in such a tragedy, maybe you’d be playing for FC Barcelona already".

Sam chuckled. "If that day didn’t end in such a tragedy, I wouldn’t have learned from adversity. Maybe I’d be some arrogant player whose ego is too high to even do the basics of playing elite professional football".

"It sounds crazy, it makes me seem like a masochist but Ian, I won’t lie to you, I’m glad I faced all those challenges in life".

He smiled. "They… kind of built me".

"They made me strong to better confront life".

"Without them, I’m not sure I’d have the same mentality that I currently have, it was a big moment in my learning curve of life".

Sam sighed, looking ahead. "Life…, it can be such a rollercoaster at times".

"Agreed". Ian added.

And so, the 2 friends stood, looking at their old school in silence. After what felt like 2 minutes later, Sam broke the silence.

"Ian".

"Yes".

"Umm…, about my system…"

"It’s fine," Ian said before Sam could complete his sentence as he turned to face his best friend, smiling at him. "I know what you want to say, just know that your secret remains between me, you, and your dad". He chuckled.

"You already confirmed it; you’d do the same for me so why won’t I do it?"

"You keep being you," he smiled. "Fulfill your potential, become great".

"Afterall, the system choose you for a reason".

"If you were not worthy, I don’t believe it would have chosen you".

Sam was tongue-tied, he didn’t know what to say anymore so he simply smiled and hugged his best friend tightly. "I love you man".

Ian flinched. "That… sounds so gay".

Sam chuckled, shoving him. "You mother*cker!"

That evening, together, the 2 best friends finally left to Ian’s original home in Abraka where his parents still stayed.

Sam had a nice time with his best friend’s family.

And after taking permission from Ian ahead of time, Sam sent his best friend’s family a large sum of money and completed the deed by buying them a house in Abuja, Maitama close to his parents’ mansion.

The emotional couple could not control themselves as they let their tears flow, it was a humbling sight to behold.

Despite expecting this already and having braced himself for it, Ian was still emotional as he hugged his best friend excitedly after.

"Thank you Sam".

"Thank you for everything".

And then he grinned. "Don’t worry, very soon I’ll graduate and become a capable Doctor, the best in the world".

"I’ll make sure you have access to the best medical attention when you’re injured, I’ll make you the fittest football player in the world!"

Sam laughed. "I can’t wait".