My most memorable moment in school

Ever had this feeling were you felt you were in a place that you were needed base on your physical looks. You were under rated because no one knew the skills you possessed because you just joined the team newly and you were begged to be noticed because you know you can do better!!

Well, that’s my story back in my secondary school. I was rejected and frustrated by my school team because of my physical stature.

I’ve said before now that my mum was a police officer and we were never steady in a place because of the nature of her job. So, she was mostly transferred from one state to another and this also affected her children’s education because we will have to follow her as well, thereby changing our schools all the time. I grew up to be talented in football. So majority of the games in my former school, I was the star player.

As usual, we went to Port-Harcourt and I was enrolled in a military school. Nigeria Navy secondary school in ss1. The school was filled with a lot of matured students that look far bigger than me with their intimidating size and height. That didn’t really matter to me because I just have two years to be done with secondary school but what I was interested most was joining their football team. The school team won’t let me play ball or join their squad. Our physical and health education (P.H.E) teacher, our then coach, felt I was too soft and small to join the team that I might get injured and it will be on him.

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Because of the way I was always consistent coming to watch them train and some small footwork I do with ball that he felt was impressive, the coach finally allowed me to play. We had a tournament going on around that period and Through out all the tournaments that I’ve been going with them, our coach/teacher won’t let me play even few minutes to game over, I’ll beg this man, yet he won’t allow me. A twist of fate came during a crucial match against army day school when the star striker had to leave temporarily because of an occasion and his parents won’t take “No” for an answer to permit her son to play that match. He promised to come and play before the match ends. So, I was excited that my time has come.

You won’t believe my coach still refused to put me. He had to change his football formation to see if he can use it to cover the void this star striker had left. Around 15 mins to close of game, they were winning us ” 2 : 1 .“ the coach reluctantly allowed me to play out of pity after all, there was no hope again. The few touch of the ball that came to me, the opponent dispossessed it from me, I became less confidence in myself as if I was a learner.

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Team mates were hesitating to pass the ball. I had to fight to bring back my confidence again and navigate through the opposition alone. Some few minutes to end of second half for the other school to be declared winner a corner kick made the difference. The underestimated footballer soared above the giants, executing a flawless header that shake the net like “Rashidi yekini” of Nigeria. My school mates, my coach, my teachers erupted in Joy.

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The match ended in draw and we were to advance to extra time. Not quite long, our star striker came towards the end of the match and wanted to play the extra time. I was a bit scared they will substitute me since I was the one in his position, the coach had to change his formation and we had two strikers. Suddenly, the underdog became the hero, transforming how my teammates and coach perceived me.

I was receiving the ball more often and i was a thorn in the flesh of the defenders. My self confidence skyrocketed. I became a force in the field. I started utilizing my small stature as an advantage. All eyes was on me because I have changed the course of the match. Every slight touch, I’ll fly to the floor pretending to be injured. We won several free kicks and our first penalty. I had the chance to take it but I left it for our top 9. Over confidence made this guy missed the penalty. Our coach wanted to faint when he missed the goal.

All hopes was not lost. We still had second half extra time. The coach now made our star striker the supporting striker and I was the main striker since I was bringing lots of free kicks to the team. In a defining moment, a defender's handball mistake around the 18yard box, granted us another penalty. I left the penalty for the same guy, see my team mates fighting for me for the first time to take the penalty. I was afraid of playing it because of a crucial penalty i have missed years ago in my former school and this same thing was replaying all over again. The expectations on me was just too much. I was afraid of missing it again.

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The chants of encouragement compelled me to face my fears. The ball found the back of the net. The cheers all over the stadium was so much, they couldn’t control the crowd again or chase them out of the stadium out of happiness. They had to end the match since we just have few minutes to go. That was one of the happiest moments of my life during my childhood.

That was how i won the hearts of my teammates, coaches, principal and the whole school. Just one little opportunity to show case myself, i moved from zero to hero. So all it takes is one opportunity to turn a dream into a memorable reality!!

I will be inviting @dar22, @adunni50 and @richy20 to participate in this contest titled “My most memorable moment in school” and it hosted by our wonderful steemian @drhira