Lagos, Nigeria – Na story wey fit make you shed small tears, but I go make am sweet like chilled palm wine. This be the comeback story of 16-year-old Emmanuel Okoro, wey don turn heartbreak to sweet victory. Just small time ago, e dey weep because dem drop am from im school cricket team due to wetin dem dem fit call inconsistent form. But no be small ‘no retreat, no surrender’ action wey dis padi carry come back!
Last Sunday, for cricket ground wey dey Lagos, Emmanuel show say e no be ordinary pikin as e score unbeaten 82 runs. Na im carry the Lagos City Strikers wey be im team enter semi-finals of inter-school tournament. You fit imagine the kind joy wey dey inside him heart? E dey feel like say na him dey on top of the world!
Before dis moment, e don dey feel like say everything don crash. “E break me,” Emmanuel talk after the match like pesin wey don suffer. “I feel like say I don fail everybody – my coach, my parents, and even myself. But I no gree make dat level define me.” Na so as e dey hustle during break, practice for community cricket pitch wey dem dey call ‘me time’.
Im coach, Mr. Tunde Adesina, no fit hide im pride, as e dey talk say, “Emmanuel don change like transformer. E come back with serious focus, discipline, and maturity.” Na true talk wey him talk, because as e dey play each shot, e dey show purpose as if say na exam wey get heavy marks!
As Emmanuel dey shine for field na so im also dey collect the Man of the Match award wey everybody dey shout for. Na correct display of passion and seriousness. “Na so I find say being dropped no be the end. Na the lesson I need for life. Sometimes, you gatz lose something to discover how much e matter to you,” e talk with proud smile.
Now wey Lagos City Strikers dey waka go finals, Emmanuel dey look forward to build on this belle of victory, show everybody say resilience and hard work fit turn wahala to correct success story. Na boy wey sabi!
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