Chapter 2 Dream Waves Goodbye to Familiarity

The Dream of becoming a pro didn't tell me I will be lonely till I left the Airport in Lagos and realized it's just me now, no familiar faces, no Bayo,Ola, Chwuka, the egbon adugbos and the rest of the Kids I kick about with, I'm not expecting to get after a kick about to already made food by mom or will I get to frequent evening street football like im Nigeria? Why didn't I ask these Questions initially? A lot of unanswered questions started to creep into my mind, Coach Ade had Close ties with a small Local Football Club Oslo that I was to be training with pending when I get a Trial call, The

First few days were the most Lonely I've ever felt, Kayode always at work might have made matters a bit worse, the Homesickness didn't really take long to start, from the very cold weather to difficulty in learning a New Language.It was hard making friends as the people I go to play evening football with are way above my Age bracket and I kept wondering, where do the young guys play football, are they all in Academies? Don't kids play football in the streets here? Everything was different from the start.

My Determination remains deeply firm that I could get a Trial soon and be on my way to becoming a Pro so I didn't let the early difficulties to adaptation sway me away from that,I let that belief console me everytime I feel alone,I kept telling myself it's just for the moment the trial call will come and I will get to train and play football with my age group. The Local Team I was training with had mostly people Older than me and the Men mostly come to play football after days work for fun, I've played a lot of these in Nigeria and wanting more was my reason for leaving home but If I have to start from here again then I will. The First evening going to play with this Local team, the Coach introduced me to the whole team and it was a very friendly welcome, we had a little team talk and played against some other team, I was introduced to the Game at half-time and the in the 45 minutes I played they were all amazed at the energy at which I played with, I didn't come to Norway to play around at all, the Determination to succeed was fueling me so much. The Coach told me after the game that I can be using the facility to train in the morning and there are other aspiring professionals that do come around to train also, he told me he's always available to help with training and they have a gym in the facility that I can be using, that was a very good first day there for me, the Coach told me I have the right talent and attitude to make it at the game and it's just tactical education lacking, I made a good friend in him that day that I still carry till this very moment.

Back home now and reflecting on these memories and my view of what the boys playing on the streets in Africa has changed from back then, if only the People and Government knows how much good it will make to invest in this education these boys are giving themselves, they are receiving the best form of football education that is enough to propell anyone to becoming top professiona in the game but lack of human investment and feasible path into professional football in Africa is making all these education go to waste. I've not gone back to see Alhaji yet but Coach Ade was aware I've returned to Nigeria in a trip that wasn't for holiday, I stopped at home first and planned to meet with Coach Ade in the next few days as I'm aware he's moved to the other side of Lagos, the side where the working class and elites have fully saturated, the very Popular Banana Island, Lagos. My Return Home was like that of a King, My whole Siblings including my elder sisters all came around with their Kids also, My Dad has bought a very Big Goat and called his friends to come around to welcome me back home, I wasn't really expect that much of a Welcome Home Celebration, I couldn't wait for everything to be over so I can get to why I'm really back home.

After my first few weeks in Oslo I realized I would have to take a Job like those Men that come to play with us in the vening also if I'm to keep surviving here and that was the Moment I waved a Final Goodbye to Familiarity,I don't come from as plenty as some other kids looking for same opportunity and the Academy Trial call wasn't coming as soon as I had hoped, working during the day was close to impossible for me as I wanted to ensure I stayed true to my Training and the Games at Afternoon and use my Nights to find a Suitable Job that I can work for like 6-8 hours every night and still have enough sleep to prepare for the next day. The moonlight painted a soft glow over the darkened streets of Oslo as I walked with determination through the city. As a young Nigerian immigrant life in Oslo was not as easy as I had imagined.My days have been filled with challenges of training and Game Preparations and now it's time to explore the new set of Struggles the Night Brings. With my heart filled with hope and my pockets almost empty,I found himself standing in front of the city's bustling nightlife district.The neon lights and booming music seemed to mock my current situation.I yearned for an opportunity, a chance to prove himself and earn a living while waiting for my Dream to call.

I stepped into the first establishment I encountered-a trendy nightclub pulsating with life. The air was thick with the smell of sweat and alcohol, the beat of the music thumping against my chest. I approached the bar, trying to catch the attention of the bartender. "Excuse me," I said, my voice was barely audible over the blaring music. "I'm looking for a night job. Do you have any openings?" The bartender glanced at me, his face revealing a mix of indifference and annoyance. "We're not hiring," he replied curtly, turning his attention back to the rowdy customers.Undeterred, I continued my search.I walked from one establishment to another, repeating my plea for employment.Some outright ignored me, while others dismissed me with a dismissive wave of their hand. Each rejection chipped away at my spirit, but I refused to let despair consume me as I know how much I needed the Job to keep surviving pending when I get the Trial Call. As the night wore on,I found myself in a small, dimly lit café tucked away in a quiet corner of the city where I've stopped to take a breath before going back home to Rest for the night, The sound of laughter and conversation floated gently through the air. The café exuded a sense of warmth and intimacy that set it apart from the bustling clubs I had encountered earlier and I just felt the courage to try again there,Hesitant yet hopeful,I approached the café's owner, a middle-aged woman with a kind smile."Excuse me, ma'am," I said, mustering my courage. "I'm looking for a night job. I'm willing to work hard and learn. Do you have any openings?" The woman looked at me with a hint of empathy in her eyes as I've really looked it from my struggles that night. She sensed the desperation and determination in my voice,Taking a moment to consider, she finally spoke "I don't have any vacancies at the moment," she said softly. "But I admire your persistence. Come back tomorrow, and we'll see if something opens up." Gratitude washed over me completely as I was already so hopefully that I'm coming tomorrow to get a positive feedback from her,I thanked her profusely.The flicker of hope burned brighter within me, fueling my determination to return the next day.

Over the following days,I continued my search every night while awaiting the Cafe owner's call,exploring new avenues and knocking on countless doors. Some Nights I faced ridicule and prejudice,while other Nights I encountered moments of compassion and understanding like from the Cafe Owner the first Night and each experience shaped me, molding my character and reinforcing my resolve, there's alot to learn about life if we go outside. Weeks turned into months and when I was just about to give up on both the Academy Trial Call and Job Search,my relentless pursuit eventually paid off on the Job Search. One fateful evening I received a call from the café owner from the first night offering me a chance to prove myself,They had a temporary opening as a waiter, and I quickly grabbed the opportunity as I was to begin the next evening, I quickly ran to the Cafe to meet with her and discuss my shifts while also waiting around to see how work around there is done, was so Happy to finally be getting a Job after my Long Search. starting the Job and knowing I will finally start earning to keep myself afloat reignited my passion for the Dream I came all the way here to Pursue and I finally got the sense that now I'm a man on my own, I waved my Final Goodbye to Familiarity.