“We are only opportune to be here because when I get back home and play with my mates on the street ,I see how talented they are” .The statement above was a remark from Kenneth Omeruo during an interview with newsmen in April this year.
That statement is simply one of the realities of football and footballers in our Country. The Country is immeasurably blessed with talents. No doubt.
Ironically ,while many will end up becoming a known but ‘unswitchable” star far away from home, ,countless have continue to live with the hope of the yet to come kindest moment of their dream.
Behold! Four months after the Abia born footballer remarked about being an opportunist ,He engineered an effort to seek way for many yet unraveled stars.
By August 6th after the AFCON in Egypt, news emerged of the interest of Kenneth to help grassroot footballers achieve their professional dream. it was a story with much difference that seized many heart.
During this period after the 2019 AFCON in Egypt ,Omeruo trained with some football academies ,among them were John Utaka Academy and Holy Ghost Academy .
In his most humane bid to help grassroot football, He would later organized a match for group of talents he identified after the training with their teams.
According to him,The purpose of the match at the training pitch of the National Stadium Abuja is for some of the players to get spotted and identified by scouts which could earn them opportunities.
He said ,”I saw some players that are good and I picked them to come here .There are some scouts here who will watch them and pick one or two players” The CD Leganes defender told newsmen.
Such was a great and gearing word from the former Chelsea Player. It is easier said than done,Kenneth seemed to have set a pace.
He reportedly told newsmen ;” for me it just about encouraging the boys and giving them hope because they need that hope.They need(sic) the next step”
Kenneth is recorded to be one of those players who has a stormy career experience abroad. Loaned to 5 club sides across Europe ,The Solid rock defender shuttled his way between Turkey and England for years in the pursuit to justify his mission.
Kenneth Chelsea transfer was effected by Andre Villa Boas and Micheal Emenalo in 2012,He would later joined the loads of Chelsea lads playing on loan. Loaning players to club is one of the hallmark of the London based side.
For Kenneth ,The battle to get noted must have been aided by an extraordinary encouragement whether by himself or by someone else.The never give up spirit would later earn him a permanent contract with the Laliga side, CD Leganes after about 7 years of loan experiment by Chelsea FC who signed him in 2012.
However, series of event has happened in connection with the Super eagles Star, These events confirmed the humane nature of the strong defender as a ‘celeb’ with sense.
One of many,Kenneth recently donated training equipments to his former Club,Sunshine Stars of Akure. It was a great joy at the training session of the Aketi boys receiving such a gesture from a former “trialist” of the Owena babes.
Speaking through the Skipper of the team and his former teamate, Dayo Ojo who made the donation in his behalf ,He said the equipments donated are just a tip of iceberg as he still has much in his mind for the club.
Unknown to many, One of his generosity saved the life of an ailing senior career officer at the Country Football Apex house ,NFF. Kenneth upon his knowledge of the situation donated significant amount of money and called for more of the gesture from his colleagues to aid the ailing director (Name withheld). It was a chronic hearth related diseases that needed a huge amount of money. Much thanks to divine help, the person is alive today.
May be quite similar to Kenneth, Robert Lewandowski,Bayern Munchen striker is also reportedly the Patron of the Poland Amputee National team,according to report the polish striker has been supporting the Amputee team of his country to many world major tournaments .His involvement might have made him worth being named as the ambassador for the European Amputee Competition coming next year September.
We can only look forward for more gesture from Kenneth ,though currently injured ,yet he is known to be an upright mind who would always keep his word and as such young players across the country may just need to put in more efforts as his next break could bring them more hope.
Yemi Sodeeq
