ALONE Dare to dream

In a small town where Wilson's family struggled to make ends meet, life was a constant struggle. Wilson, the youngest of four, faced hardships that would make you wonder if life was fair. His mother's early death cast a shadow over his childhood, leaving him without the warmth of a motherly love and care. His father, Adekola, sank into to the weight of grief and turned to destructive habits, trading the family's possessions for fleeting moments of pleasure in drinking and smoking

Shola and Elena, the two elder siblings, became the pillars of the family, working tirelessly to sustain their household. They took on the burden of financial responsibility, not only to feed themselves but also to send Wilson and Christabel to school. The weight on their shoulders was immense, but they faced each day with determination, hoping to rescue their family from the grips of despair and struggles.

Wilson, despite the hardships, went through life with a contagious smile, courage, and enthusiasm. He wasn't academically inclined, unlike his sister Christabel, but his father saw in him the reflection of his late wife, Mary. Wilson's innocence and handsome appearance were a constant reminder of the love he had lost.

While Wilson struggled in the classroom, he found purpose and joy on the football field. His physical prowess and skill in sports, especially soccer, were unmatched. In the midst of academic shortcomings, he blossomed as an athlete, winning accolades and earning the captaincy of his school's sports teams. His siblings, torn between pride and concern, watched as Wilson's passion for soccer overshadowed his academic responsibilities.

As Wilson's dedication to soccer grew, so did the disapproval from teachers and students. Mockery and pointed fingers became a daily ordeal, and even the principal contemplated expelling and withdrawing him from school. Unbeknownst to them, Wilson possessed a unique gift—a talent that went beyond the academic constraints imposed upon him.

The turning point came when teachers, thinking they were doing him a favor, banned Wilson from playing soccer, hoping it would force him to redirect his focus to academics. Little did they know that this move only fueled his desire for the game. Wilson's siblings, worried about his future, tried to persuade him from pursuing a career in football.

However, Wilson's love for soccer was unwavering. He defied societal expectations and pursued his passion with unmatched determination and courage.as wilson grew more and more this skills was sharpened, wilson was often banned from school but with his strong will and desire he went to the shool field and play football with his friends and collegues aften christabel do look for him after closing hours with her shout wilson.......... where are ? with an answer she kept looking for him not until she finds him playing soccer with his friends with wilson sweating , smiling, and panting so hard looking straight at christabel eyes and said with a smile on his facechristabel you should know where my heart his said wilson you will always find me there , christabel with a groaining sound replied let go its time to go home its pass closing hours wilson toke his bag and went with christabel hone.

As much as wilson tried his best to improve his academics performance things got still worst , now its came a time wilson was so fustrated about all things happening around him ,its got to a point he said to himself am not going to school again like why always me i fail so much and bad everyone mocks and scold me i got no friends just me and me , only football gives me joy , with tears gashing from his eyes he walked home slowly and quietly from school .

one day along wilson childhood friend seyi called to him from the road said as he was buying mama funsho akara in the morning wilson... wilson... ,with looks in his eyes he gaz around about who his calling , as he looked around seyi jumped on him with a playful vibe wilson......... i missed u big head wilson with a playful and a shocking laughter smiled saying seyi its been so long.... look at how tall you are now , seyi said with a laugh atleast i can bully you now , they both laughed hard and with a warm hug , seyi said wilson hope you got those mesmerizing dribbles and shoot in you still , because i could remember how you usually dribbled us back then in primary school , wilson burst into laughter saying well i can not say until i face u guys again , seyi with a playful frown looked at wilson and said you don start ba big head , they but laughed , seyi said why dont you come over every afternoon around 4:00 pm to train with us at the field in my team , wilson replied with a deep breath mmm.. ok i will just come pick me over whenever you are going to field so i wont get lost. seyi replied ok tomorrow get ready. wilson smiled and said ok big man count me in , they waved them self both bye.

now wilson woke early in the morning ,did his home chores and then did his morning routine of physical excersise press up, sit ups ,squat and he juggled some a football 500 early morning and then he ate his breakfast then he continuedwith his day work . 3:30 came seyi came over knocked at the door asking for wilson he was sleeping christabel woke him up oya footballer bia they go field seyi is around wilson jumped off the bed tooks his jersey and went off with seyi , getting to the field seyi asked wilson where his ur boot by the way wilson looked and replied with a puzzled face but i dont have . seyi laughed so hard and replied and you wah play ball? you will get yourself serious injured you will be playing big boys with yam legs with boot on. wilson replied am not scared i no get boot but atleast i get legs what of people who dont have ? seyi replied with a sarcastic look and said ok just be careful only if you are allowed to play today because actually coach leke no go gree o , wilson replied with a funny look on his face .

wilson and seyi was approaching the field by 3:45 everyone was already at the field geering up for today training cause the team is actually preparing for a regional competition that is starting soon, when seyi and wilson got to the field greeted coach leke he replied seyi how you doing who u bring come today ? with a sarcastic look seyi replied with a smile this my friend wilson he plays football and he to like ball so i bring am come field with me but chai coach he no con get boot thou, abeg shey u fit allow am play small? coach leke laughed and looked at wilson young man you sure you be footballer so ? wilson said yes , coach leke replied am not sure you no resemble one ,i dont think you actually know how to play from your look you to tall to play football go play basket ball na, you go rich oo... , wilson with the burning aura of passion and desire in him looked at coach leke straight in the eye with a smile coach just let me today and if i play below my standard dont let me here again , seyi looked at wilson with shocked in his mind he said wetin they do wilson? what audacity ,same as the coach he was shocked at gut and confidence of this young 15 year old boy , he asked where do you play he said i dont know but i love to score goals ......, coach leke said really wilson replied yes he said ok. let see

now everyone is well kitted up ready from training as usual they started jogging round the field , half way into the jogging wilson started feeling the hit of the jogging the pace increased wilson who have not experience high intensity training like this started dropping to the back gasping and breathing heavily for air , coach leke with his charismatic voice shouted move it boys.... nobody die if u tired go home..... saying that he looked at wilson asked you wanna go home ? wilson replied forward ever backward never , coach leke replied better .after the jogging and regular stretchies wilson was out of breath fell on the ground exhausted from the fast pace jogging , coach leke called all team together address the team and arrange a 11 aside team started wilson and seyi , told wilson to strike while seyi a defender at the opposing team , seyi looked at wilson and said you are dead .. with a smile wilson replied with a laugh get ready to wash your cloth because you about to be mudded on the ground , coach leke just laughed and walked off .

now kelvin who was the captain of the team told wilson who was striking for his side said in a unfriendly tune you better put body for ball this place no be basketball court , wilson smiled and looked away coach leke blowed the whistle the stage was set the ball was passed around seyi team was stronger because most senior players of the team where there on their side within the first twenty minute seyi team scored through femi curling effort into the top corner as time went on seyi scored with a beautiful header , wilson team was down by two goals coach leke was saying from outside with a loud voice wilson be ready not to come here again with a mocking tune of laughter , wilson felt a real push , gbenga the pacy winger played a beautiful forward pass to wilson remaining him and seyi and the goal keeper to beat ,with his first control of the ball wilson with a fake shoulder movement dropped his shoulder to the right and with a split second thought move to the left where by faking seyi outstretch leg remaining the goal keeper to beat with a composed look wilson slotted the ball through the goal keepers leg its 2-1 , coach leke with a suprised look on his face said wow what a nice body feint from a tall lanky boy, its continued the pressure was mounting on wilson team ,kelvin got the ball close to the corner flag had a glaze up saw wilson making a shape run down the flank with a delicate outside of the feet pass he sent the ball straight to wilson as wale the defender was closing down on wilson to stop the advancing ball with wilson awareness he made a deft touch pass to gbenga who was close by leaving him and seyi remaining wilson made a very fast run into the opponent box with gbenga laying a well timed through pass to wilson as the onrushing keeper was approaching wilson toke a double step over disbalancing the goal keeeper leaving him on the flow rounding him and sloting the ball home, and its was 2-2 wilson with the double ,coach leke could not believe how good wilson was he was shocked to the dept , as he raised his hands to identify the few last minute remaining wilson and his teammate won a freekick kelvin toke the ball and wanted to take it as per the captin of the team and the freekick taker of the team wilson went up to him and said skippo abegg allow me i go score ,kelvin replied if you no score forget about playing freekicks again for this team , wilson toke the ball arranged the ball properly ,with a shocked on coach leke face he said to himself what the hell of a confidence this boy wilson have for taking a freekick , as he blowed his wilson with his venomous strike curled this ball over the wall into the top right corner , realizing its was a goal wilson with his passion and desire he shouted taking off his shirt with joy thou its was a training he was joyful coach leke could not help but clap and he said to himself while clapping a star is born.

after the training ended coach leke called together the team gave addresses and everyone packed for home , coach leke called wilson and said i most see you here tomorrow with a smile on his face wilson replied yes boss , as they where going home seyi said with a playful voice bad guy you just destroyed me and my teammate today what a performance he said wilson replied well i told you thou . in the morning of the next day shola and elena informed christabel and wilson that dad is seriously heal and he have been admitted to the hospital and he is been diognised with a deadly liver disease thats need intense care that will cost a all lot of millions ,they all where both devastated by the news and how difficult it is to get such amount , at that moment there was a flame of passion and determination an hunger for success that was ignited inside of wilson he quiet went into his room sat the and thought so deep about the situation on ground mom died now dad his facing a serious health challanging crisis that really could take his life , is this how i will lose both of my parent he says .with tears dripping down his cheeks will made a vow to himself i most become the best in the world i most take my family out of tragedy and poverty i must suscceed as a footballer my dad most not die and he cleaned his eyes with his hands .