Joel Ajayi

For the Super Eagles and Leganes Spaniard football club defender, Kenneth Omeruo, leaving a legacy off the field is just as important as on-field success and the needy in Nigeria and the entire world are taking notice.

To be an athlete is to live in a bubble, one filled with stats, practice, and training. It’s about games most every night. There are hardships, sure changing time zones, red-eye flights, time away from family.

It’s definitely not easy, and very few people are capable of handling that. But that’s life inside one of the world’s most special vacuums.

Outside that bubble, though, is the real world. And in the real world, bigger questions loom. How will needy kids find a lifeboat? Who will help in the face of challenges? Do they have any ray of hope?

Those questions find their way into clubhouses more often than you might think. Super Eagles 2013 AFCON winner, Kenneth Omeruo‘s football academy reaching out and do something extra.

Of a truth, former Chelsea FC of England player is affecting the world in even more significant ways than just having an impressive line on the pitch of play.

Kenneth Josiah Omeruo was born on October 17th, 1993 in Abia State; he grew up in southeast Nigeria and began playing football in his parent’s sitting room.

It was there the dream to make a career out of football was birthed. Sustained by his mother’s support, he played for his school’s team, featuring in several shell cup and grassroots competitions.

Beginning from Nigeria, Omeruo moved abroad to Anderlecht Academy. From there, he moved to Standard Liege of Belgium and in January 2012 was signed by Chelsea.

His time at Chelsea has been characterized by several loan spells. Immediately after signing for Chelsea, he did not allow that to shake him, he was unwavering until he sealed a permanent deal to the Leganes on a five-year deal.

Kind-heart 2013 AFCON gold medalist, Kenneth Omeruo returned back to the old field Catholic Church playing Ground, Gwarimpa, Abuja where he was discovered years ago where scouting for talented young players took place.

OMERUO’S ACADEMY COMPLETE’ SIGNING OF TWO STARS TO LEGANES

Hope returned for a rejected under-20  player Obinna Martins who could not make the trip for Nigeria after considered him not good while another hopeless player Samuel Obaleh was given hope as the Omeruo academy completed their transfer to the Spanish Segunda club.

Obi Martins was among the player’s journalists, football followers were certain he would make the cut when the official list of the Flying Eagles names was released ahead of the 2020 West Africa Football Union Zone B tournament in the Benin Republic but today no hope is lost as heaven and earth smiled on him the courtesy of Omeruo.

ITS A BLESSING IN DISGUISE- MARTINS

An elated Obinna Martin Speaking in Abuja said: “the disappointment of not being selected by the team handlers was a blessing in disguise.

“I did not feel bad about me not joining the team. And they’re not qualifying for the U-20 Nations Cup that is football. You win some, you lose some. My plans are to do well and make the country and my family proud.”

PUTTING SMILES ON THE FACES OF TALENTED NIGERIAN FOOTBALLERS MY PRIORITY-OMERUO

Addressing journalist in Abuja on Thursday, Omeruo expressed: “giving young boys the platform to realize their dream of playing professional football pleased my heart and I promise to use this academy help and discover more talents for Nigeria.

“It is a thing of joy seeing my dream coming to reality. I am happier when my academy facilitated the signing of two players (Obi Martins and Samuel Obaleh) to my club, Leganes.

“I will like to add that seeing players from my academy playing for the national team will make me a fulfilled man after my retirement from football. Giving young talented players such a platform will help reduce crimes rate, help players take good care of their family and more importantly, takes boys off the streets and give them hope.”

He added that: “football is my passion and I know there are a lot of opportunities out there especially for young players because if we have to wait for the players to play in the national team, Under-17 or U-20, we wouldn’t get the best players. And most times the best players don’t have transport fares to go to this trial and I know a lot of boys so, I normally pay for their transport. I had to make sure they come to see if I can help one or two achieve their dream and right now I have two of my players who have already signed a contract with my club in Leganes and they have opened the way for me and given me the opportunity as long as the players are good they can come and I have other platforms I’m still working on to make it possible for these kids to actualize their dreams

“My satisfaction will at one point when I finish playing and I go on TV and see a lot of my boys still playing and being able to lift their family out of poverty because we can’t all depend on the government to help us and with these at least if one family is lifted out they can also affect other people,” he said.

HEAPED ENCOMIOUM ON COACH ABIMBOLA

Just like a river that did not forget his source, Omeruo showered encomium on the man whom God has given grace Coach Abimbola Samuel to discovered him at the same pitch, eleven years ago.

“I feel happy with the crowd I have seen here and the quality I have seen here am really happy and I want to appreciate my coach, coach Abimbola, coach Abu was here also and Emeka for bringing out time to train the boys, to select the boys, it’s purely by merit.”

KENNETH OMERUO A RIVER THAT DID NOT FORGET HIS SOURCE-COACH

As for him a coach that discovered Omeruo and many others coach Samuel Abimbola expressed that I just want to thank God that this is happening while I am alive and am not disappointed because from the day one I had contact with Kenneth, I knew that he’s going to go places because the River of kindness is flowing through his heart, so am not surprised that he’s trying to give back to what has given him fame.

“I want to see him as a role model to others that is when you climb across the big rivers that don’t forget those that are waiting for the canoe, that is what Omeruo is trying to do, I will liken it to the bible10 lepers was cured by Jesus Christ, its only one that went back to give thanks to Jesus and that is what Omeruo is doing.

“A lot of them that made it but how many of them are coming back, some of them are keeping 4 girls in rooms in the hotel, wasting money, buying Lamborghini and forgetting that a day is coming the younger ones they need to have taken care of will be looking on to them.

“I want to congratulate him for this step, the part he has taken; God Almighty will back him up and see him through.

“It means that he’s giving them life, giving them a future, it goes beyond even Omeruo himself, he’s helping Nigeria as a Country, he’s taking problems out of the street, he’s giving life, hope to the parents, I just want to have a way to discuss with this boy that if he is trying to do it now, they should now have it in mind that time is coming, a time to give back time, because if he has not dedicated himself if he was not determined if he was not having the target of where he’s going, he will not be where he is today. A time will come when he’ll be so happy, he’s not expecting money from them but he’s expecting that when he sits on that couch he’ll say, oh God has used me to touch somebody.” Coach Abimbola extolled Omeruo.

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