Golden Hawks – Episode 1: The Beginning

The afternoon sun cast long shadows on the schoolyard as Perfect Iloh and his friends, Darwin Iroughene and Nosa, sat under the mango tree near the football pitch. Their voices were filled with excitement, their hands moving wildly as they discussed their favorite topic—football.

“Did you see Ronaldo’s goal last night?” Perfect asked, his eyes shining. “That bicycle kick was insane!”

Darwin nodded enthusiastically. “That man is not normal! The way he jumped, it was like he was flying.”

Nosa laughed. “Even our school’s best striker can’t dream of scoring like that.”

They all chuckled, but then Darwin’s face turned serious. He looked at his friends for a moment before speaking.

“What if we make our own team?” he asked.

Perfect raised an eyebrow. “Our own team?”

“Yes,” Darwin said. “A real football team. We’re always playing, always talking about the greats. Why don’t we start something?”

Nosa leaned back against the tree, thinking. “It sounds good, but do you think we can really do it?”

Darwin sighed. “I don’t know… but what if we try? It may be good.”

The idea lingered in Perfect’s mind even after they left school that day. When he got home, he was greeted by his parents, Ifeoma and Joseph, and his older sister, Amanda.

“How was school?” his mother asked.

“Fine,” Perfect said with a small smile before heading to his room.

Inside, he pulled out his diary and sat at his small wooden desk. He took a deep breath and wrote in bold letters:

GOLDEN HAWKS

Beneath the name, he started listing the players he wanted in the team:

Perfect Iloh – Striker

Darwin Iroughene – Midfielder

Nosa – Defender

Femi – Goalkeeper

Uche – Winger

Sadiq – Midfielder

Emmanuel – Defender

Chinedu – Forward

Kelvin – Winger

Ayo – Defender

Michael – Midfielder

He stared at the names, feeling a surge of excitement. But then, doubt crept in. What if it never worked? What if they never got the chance?

With a heavy heart, he tore the page from his diary and crumpled it.

Years Later…

Now older, Perfect was no longer a schoolboy dreaming about football. He was a Bolt driver, picking up passengers to make a living. Life had moved on, and so had he—until one fateful evening.

A ride request came in. The location: Victory Academy Secondary School.

Perfect arrived and waited near the gate. Moments later, a young boy ran towards the car, still dressed in his football kit. He opened the door, breathing heavily.

“Good evening, sir,” the boy said.

“Evening,” Perfect replied, glancing at him through the mirror. “You play football?”

The boy grinned. “Yes! I scored two goals today.”

Perfect smiled faintly. The energy, the excitement—it reminded him of himself years ago.

As they drove, the boy kept talking about football, about his dream of playing professionally. Perfect listened, feeling something awaken inside him.

When they reached the stadium, the boy grabbed his bag, but before stepping out, he turned back.

“Sir,” he said. “Can you do me a favor?”

“What’s that?”

The boy pulled out a small notebook and handed it to Perfect. “Can you write something for me?”

Perfect hesitated, then took the book. He opened to a fresh page and, without thinking, wrote:

PROJECT GOLDEN HAWKS IS BACK.

The boy beamed. “Thank you, sir.”

As Perfect watched him disappear into the stadium, his heart pounded. The dream he had buried so long ago was knocking again.

Maybe, just maybe, the Golden Hawks weren’t finished yet.

Golden Hawks – Episode 2: The Search Begins

Perfect Iloh sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the words he had written in the boy’s notebook the night before. "Project Golden Hawks is Back."

The words felt heavy, yet powerful. It had been years since he last thought about his childhood dream. But now, something inside him was stirring again.

“It’s time,” he whispered to himself.

Determined, he grabbed his phone, wallet, and car keys. He was going to find players—young, hungry, and talented players who were ready to make history.

The Search in Lagos

Driving across the busy streets of Lagos, Perfect visited different football fields, watching street games, training sessions, and casual kickabouts. He needed to find the right players, those with both skill and heart.

One evening, he found himself at a dusty pitch in Surulere. A group of boys were playing, but one caught his attention—a goalkeeper diving left and right, stopping every shot that came his way. He was fast, sharp, and fearless, despite not being the tallest.

Perfect smirked and called out, “Oi, boy!”

The boy turned, breathing heavily, sweat dripping down his forehead. “Yes, sir?”

Perfect walked onto the pitch. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m training,” the boy said, catching his breath. “I want to be a great goalkeeper.”

Perfect raised an eyebrow. “You’re not that tall for a keeper.”

The boy wiped his hands on his shorts and stood straight. “I’m 5’10” and still growing,” he said confidently. “Height isn’t everything. Reflexes, positioning, and heart—that’s what makes a great goalkeeper.”

Perfect smiled. He liked this kid’s confidence. “What’s your name?”

“Ayomide,” the boy replied. “I’m from Benin City.”

Perfect nodded, impressed. “Listen, Ayomide… do you want to join a team? A team where you can train and play at a level that can take you to the pro league?”

Ayomide’s eyes widened. “For real?”

“For real,” Perfect said. “But it’s not going to be easy. You’ll have to work harder than ever.”

The boy didn’t hesitate. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Perfect clapped him on the shoulder. “Good. Pack your things, we’re leaving tonight.”

The Journey Back Home

As they traveled back to Perfect’s hometown, Ayomide sat quietly, staring out of the window. “So… what’s the name of the team?” he finally asked.

Perfect glanced at him and smirked. “Golden Hawks.”

Ayomide grinned. “That sounds like a champion’s name.”

Perfect chuckled. “That’s because we’re going to be champions.”

With his first player recruited, Perfect knew this was just the beginning. The Golden Hawks were taking flight once again.

Golden Hawks – Episode 3: Building the Squad

Perfect Iloh stood on the sideline of his makeshift training ground, watching Ayomide train alone. The boy was dedicated, diving left and right, pushing himself to improve. Perfect nodded in approval—this was the kind of mentality he needed in his team.

But one player wasn’t enough. The Golden Hawks needed firepower, speed, and strength. It was time to find more warriors.

Finding the Playmaker – David

Perfect drove across town, stopping by different football pitches. It was late afternoon when he arrived at a dusty field where a small crowd had gathered to watch a street match.

The game was intense—two teams battling for dominance. But one player stood out. A young boy wearing a faded red jersey, quick on his feet, weaving past defenders like they weren’t there.

David.

He played as a striker but had the vision of a playmaker. Every touch was precise, every pass was sharp. Midway through the match, he received the ball on the left wing, cut inside, and, without hesitation, unleashed a curling shot from outside the box.

The ball soared through the air, bending past the goalkeeper into the top corner. The crowd erupted.

Perfect smiled. This was exactly the kind of player he needed.

After the match, Perfect approached him.

“You played well,” he said.

David wiped sweat from his forehead and nodded. “Thanks.”

Perfect folded his arms. “Do you want to play at a level everyone dreams of?”

David hesitated, then met Perfect’s gaze. “Are you serious?”

Perfect nodded.

David didn’t need to think twice. “I’m in.”

“Get in the car,” Perfect said.

David grabbed his bag, said goodbye to his friends, and joined Perfect on the journey.

Recruiting the Defender

As they drove back, they passed a small compound where a boy was running laps around his backyard. His speed, stamina, and determination caught Perfect’s attention.

Perfect rolled down his window and called out, “Oi! What’s your name?”

The boy stopped and looked over. “I’m Samuel.”

Perfect stepped out of the car. “You look strong. You a defender?”

Samuel nodded. “Center-back. I train every day.”

Perfect studied him for a moment. He had the build of a solid defender—strong, disciplined, and determined.

“You want to join a real team?” Perfect asked.

Samuel’s face lit up. “I’d love to.”

“Then get in.”

Without hesitation, Samuel grabbed his boots and hopped into the car. The Golden Hawks had their wall at the back.

The Tall Striker – Michael

After dropping the players off at the training ground, Perfect went out to get food. As he drove past an empty school field, he noticed a tall boy practicing shots at an open goal.

He stayed in his car, watching. The boy kept missing, hitting the post, skying shots, or barely getting any power on them. But what struck Perfect wasn’t the missed shots—it was the fact that the boy never stopped trying.

For ten minutes, he kept going.

Perfect finally stepped out. “Hey!”

The boy turned.

“What’s your name?”

“Micheal,” the boy said, panting.

Perfect nodded. “Micheal, you have potential. Plus, you’re tall. How tall are you?”

Michael shrugged. “Just under 6 feet.”

Perfect smirked. “Good enough.”

Micheal looked confused. “For what?”

“For a chance to join my team,” Perfect said. “You’ll get opportunities to shine against other teams. You in?”

Michael took a deep breath, looking at the goalpost, then back at Perfect. He had never been offered something like this before.

Finally, he exhaled and said, “Yes.”

Golden Hawks Rising

With four new players recruited, Perfect knew the Golden Hawks were starting to take shape. But there was still more work to be done.

This was only the beginning.

Golden Hawks – Episode 4: Assembling the Team

With Ayomide, David, Samuel, and Micheal already on board, Perfect Iloh continued his search for the remaining pieces of the Golden Hawks. He spent days traveling through Lagos and neighboring towns, scouting street games, school tournaments, and training grounds.

Slowly but surely, the team took shape.

Final Players Recruited:

Ayomide (Goalkeeper – Benin City): Quick reflexes, fearless in goal.

Samuel (Center-back – Lagos): Strong, disciplined, and a leader in defense.

Michael (Striker – Lagos): Tall, strong, and improving his finishing.

David (Left Wing/Playmaker – Lagos): Technical, great passer, deadly long shots.

Uche (Right Wing – Anambra): Speedster, great dribbler.

Sadiq (Central Midfielder – Kaduna): Intelligent passer, strong in tackles.

Kelvin (Right-back – Ogun State): Solid defender, good at overlapping runs.

Chinedu (Left-back – Enugu): Quick, aggressive, and smart in defense.

Femi (Defensive Midfielder – Ibadan): Physically strong, controls midfield.

Ayo (Striker – Abuja): Clinical finisher, great movement in the box.

Emmanuel (Midfielder – Port Harcourt): Box-to-box engine, never stops running.

After weeks of training and bonding, the team was complete.

Registering for the Nigeria National League (NNL)

The Golden Hawks officially registered for the Nigeria National League (NNL), the second division of Nigerian professional football. If they performed well, they would have a chance to qualify for the NPFL (Nigeria Professional Football League), where the country’s best clubs played.

It was time to prove themselves.

First Match – Golden Hawks vs. Flying Eagles FC

Their first challenge was against Flying Eagles FC, a well-established team known for their aggressive playstyle and attacking football. The match was set in a packed stadium, the air thick with excitement.

Match Details

Kickoff: The referee blew the whistle, and the match began with intensity. Flying Eagles controlled possession early, testing Ayomide with long-range shots.

10th Minute: The Hawks struggled to find their rhythm, with Flying Eagles pressing high.

15th Minute (Goal – Flying Eagles 1-0): A cross into the box found the Eagles’ striker, who leaped high and headed the ball past Ayomide. The Hawks were down 1-0.

30th Minute: The Golden Hawks finally settled, with Sadiq controlling the midfield and David finding spaces.

38th Minute (Goal – Golden Hawks 1-1): David received a pass from Sadiq, cut inside from the left, and unleashed a stunning long shot from 25 yards. The ball curled beautifully into the top corner. Goal of the match!

Halftime: 1-1. Perfect gave an inspiring halftime talk, pushing the boys to believe in themselves.

Second Half

50th Minute: Both teams fought hard, but the Hawks’ defense stood strong. Samuel and Kelvin made crucial tackles, keeping the score level.

67th Minute (Goal – Golden Hawks 2-1): Uche sprinted down the right wing, sent a low cross into the box, and Ayo tapped it in! The Hawks took the lead!

78th Minute: The Flying Eagles threw everything forward, but Ayomide made two incredible saves to keep them out.

90th Minute (Goal – Golden Hawks 3-1): A counterattack sealed the game. Sadiq won the ball, sent a long pass to Michael, who rounded the keeper and scored his first goal.

Final Whistle: Golden Hawks 3-1 Flying Eagles FC.

Victory & The Road Ahead

The players celebrated their first win, hugging and chanting in the locker room. Perfect watched with pride—this was just the beginning.

The Golden Hawks had announced their arrival. The journey to the top had officially begun.