Football Life

Episode 1: The Beginning of Perfect

In the heart of Nigeria, a young boy stood on the sidelines of the youth academy football field, watching his teammates warm up. His full name was Sean Perfect Remi Iloh, but he insisted that everyone call him Perfect—a name given to him by his father, who always told him he was destined for greatness.

Perfect had always dreamed of playing professionally, but there was one problem—he wasn’t the fastest or the fittest player on the team. His larger build often made others underestimate him, but he was determined to prove that skill mattered more than size.

During training, he approached the academy coach, his heart pounding with anticipation.

"Coach, can I play today?" he asked eagerly.

The coach glanced at him and shook his head. "Later."

Perfect sighed. He knew what that meant—not today.

Instead of feeling discouraged, he decided to make the most of his time. He spotted two of his closest friends who weren’t picked for the main session either—Félix, a talented boy from Spain, and his best friend, Samuel Ajayi.

"Let’s train together," Perfect suggested, trying to keep his spirits high.

The three of them moved to an open space near the field and started passing drills. Félix, known for his quick footwork, guided them through techniques he had learned back home. Samuel, who had a strong shot, helped Perfect improve his control. They passed the ball between them, practicing first touches, dribbling, and movement.

As the sun began to set, the academy session ended, and players started heading home. Perfect wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling a sense of satisfaction. He hadn’t played in the actual session, but he had trained, and that was enough for now.

Walking home with Félix and Samuel, he looked up at the sky, determination burning in his eyes.

"One day, they’ll have no choice but to let me play."

This was just the beginning of his football life.

Football Life

Episode 2: Remi’s Little Lie

The school bell rang, signaling the start of another day. Perfect, known as Remi at school, walked through the crowded hallways of Victory Heights Academy. Unlike the football academy, where he insisted on being called Perfect, his classmates preferred calling him by his middle name—Remi. It was shorter, simpler, and, to be honest, he didn’t mind.

But today, his mind wasn’t on football or even schoolwork. His eyes kept drifting toward Tosie, the girl he had liked for months. She was funny, smart, and had the most beautiful smile in the whole school—at least, that’s what Remi believed.

During lunch, he finally worked up the courage to approach her.

"Hey, Tosie," he said, trying to sound casual.

She looked up from her meal and smiled. "Hey, Remi. What’s up?"

His heart raced. This was it.

"Uh, can I get your number?" he asked, attempting to act cool.

Tosie raised an eyebrow. "You have a phone?"

Remi froze. He didn’t. His parents had promised to get him one soon, but right now, the only phone in his house belonged to his mom.

Not wanting to embarrass himself, he blurted out, "Yeah, of course! Here, let me give you my number."

Tosie handed him her phone, and without thinking, he typed in his mom’s number.

"Text me later," he said, handing the phone back and walking away before she could ask more questions. His heart was pounding, but at least he had her number now.

However, as he left, a realization hit him.

If she texts me… my mom is going to see it!

Now, he had a bigger problem than just getting a phone—he had to make sure his mom didn’t pick up Tosie’s call.

Football Life

Episode 3: A Lesson on and off the Pitch

After school, Remi sat in his room, staring at his mom’s phone. He had managed to take it while she was busy in the kitchen. His hands shook as he typed a message to Tosie, trying to sound smooth.

Remi: Hey, it’s me, Remi. Just wanted to say you looked nice today. Hope your day was good.

A few minutes later, his heart almost jumped out of his chest when the phone buzzed.

Tosie: Oh? Thanks, Remi. That’s sweet of you. You play football, right?

Remi: Yeah, of course. I’m gonna be the best footballer Nigeria has ever seen.

Tosie: Haha, really? I wanna see you play tomorrow at school.

Remi froze. This was his chance to impress her. He had to show her what he could do.

The School Match

The next day, during lunch break, a game was set up on the school field. Remi joined in, playing alongside some of the best players in school:

David, the fast and skilled winger

Ibrahim, the strong defender

Chuka, the playmaker with amazing passing skills

Kelvin, the striker who rarely missed a shot

Tosie and her friends stood on the sidelines, watching. This was Remi’s moment to shine.

The game started, and as soon as he got the ball, he tried to dribble past Ibrahim. Big mistake. Ibrahim easily took the ball from him.

A few minutes later, David sent a cross into the box. Remi jumped to head it but mistimed his jump, falling flat on his back. Laughter echoed around the field.

The worst moment came when he tried to do a skill move against Chuka. He attempted a step-over but tripped over his own feet and landed face-first in the grass. The entire crowd, including Tosie, burst into laughter.

Remi’s face burned with embarrassment. Tosie walked up to him, offering her hand to help him up.

"That was… something," she said, still smiling. "But hey, at least you tried."

Just as Remi was about to say something, Tosie’s friend, Jannessa, stepped in.

"Tried? More like failed," she scoffed. "He plays like his stomach is full of jollof rice and fufu. No wonder he keeps falling!"

The laughter got even louder. Remi felt his chest tighten, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he grabbed his bag and walked away.

Checking His Weight

When he got home, he went straight to the bathroom and stepped on the scale. 104 kg.

He stared at the number, his fists clenched.

"This has to change," he muttered to himself. "I promise, I will get slim and become the best Nigerian footballer ever."

Training at Home

That evening, he started training in the small space behind his house.

Jumping Jacks – 100 reps to improve his stamina

Push-ups – 30 reps to build strength

Squats – 50 reps to improve leg power

Jogging in Place – 10 minutes to increase endurance

Dribbling Drills – Using a small ball to practice control

Passing Against the Wall – Kicking the ball against a wall and trapping it on the return

Sweat dripped from his forehead, but he didn’t stop. He repeated the exercises every night, determined to prove everyone wrong.

Remi’s Parents Revealed

As he finished his training, his mom called him inside for dinner. Mrs. Amaka Iloh and Mr. Philip Iloh sat at the table, watching him walk in, drenched in sweat.

"What have you been doing?" his father asked.

"Training," Remi replied, his voice filled with determination. "I’m going to be the best footballer in Nigeria."

His parents exchanged a look, but they didn’t say anything.

Remi didn’t need anyone’s approval. He had made a promise to himself. And he was going to keep it.

Football Life

Episode 4: The Grind Begins

The morning sun peeked through Remi’s window, but he was already awake. His body ached from last night’s training, but he didn’t care. He stood in front of the bathroom mirror, staring at his reflection.

"No more excuses. No more embarrassment."

After a quick shower, he threw on his school uniform and rushed to breakfast. His mom, Amaka Iloh, eyed him suspiciously.

"Why are you in a hurry?" she asked.

"Gotta get to school early," Remi replied, grabbing a piece of bread.

His dad, Philip Iloh, glanced up from his newspaper. "You training again today?"

Remi nodded. "Every day."

His parents said nothing, but he could tell they were watching him closely.

The School Challenge

At school, Remi was determined to prove himself. The memory of Jannessa’s insult still burned in his mind. He walked into the cafeteria, spotting Tosie sitting with her friends. He took a deep breath and walked over.

"Hey, Tosie," he said.

She smiled. "Hey, Remi. How’s training?"

"I’m getting better," he said confidently. "Watch me today at lunch. I’ll show you."

Tosie grinned. "Alright, let’s see what you got."

Nearby, David, Ibrahim, Chuka, and Kelvin overheard the conversation. David smirked.

"You? Show us something?" he teased. "Alright then, let’s make it a challenge. If you can score a goal against me, we’ll take you seriously."

Laughter followed, but Remi didn’t back down.

"Bet," he said.

The Match

At lunchtime, a crowd gathered around the school field. The teams were set, and David, the star goalkeeper, stood confidently in goal. Remi’s team got the ball, and the game was on.

The moment he got possession, the pressure was on. Ibrahim rushed toward him, trying to steal the ball. Remi used a quick body feint and slipped past him.

The crowd gasped. Even Tosie looked impressed.

Next was Chuka, the best dribbler in school. Remi pushed the ball forward, faking left before cutting right. Chuka hesitated for a second—just enough time for Remi to sprint past him.

Now, it was just him and David.

"Come on, big man," David taunted. "Let’s see if you got the finish."

Remi took a deep breath and went for a powerful shot—but it flew too high.

The ball soared over the goalpost.

David burst out laughing. "Man, you had me scared for a second!"

The crowd chuckled, and even Tosie giggled. Remi clenched his fists.

"One more chance!" he demanded.

David shrugged. "Alright, one last shot."

This time, Remi focused. He controlled his breathing, dribbled forward, and instead of power, he went for precision. He aimed for the bottom corner—and this time, the ball slipped past David’s outstretched hands into the net.

The crowd erupted. Tosie clapped.

"Okay, okay," David admitted, walking up to him. "That was nice."

For the first time, Remi felt like he belonged.

Training Intensifies

That night, he pushed himself even harder.

5 km jog around the neighborhood

100 jumping jacks

50 push-ups

60 squats

Dribbling through cones

Shooting drills using empty water bottles as targets

His shirt was soaked in sweat, but he didn’t stop.

"I will be great. I will be the best."

His dad watched from the window, arms crossed. Philip Iloh wasn’t sure if his son could do it, but one thing was clear—Remi wasn’t giving up.