Football Life Episode 3: A Lesson on and off the Pitch

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.

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