By Okosun Dennis
What a way to motivate young talents to aspire to the apogee of their career prospects? Brig Gen Lander Saraso makes a difference in the lives of the Little Wonders FC based at the Ikeja Military Cantonment as he treated them to unforgettable moments, honouring the footballers with life motivating talks.
Defiling the heavy downpour that preceded the novelty match which took place at the Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai Sports Complex, Ikeja Command, it was a moment of good soccer artistry as the club tackled popular Lagos team, 36 Lions FC to good soccer extravaganza.
Interestingly, for the first time since its inception in 2002, the Little Wonders FC, a football team domicile in the Nigerian Army 9 Brigade Command, Ikeja Cantonment, Maryland, Lagos has qualified for the Lagos State League.
Excited by their qualification to the elite club, the Brigade Commander, Brig. Gen Saraso, decided to give the team a surprise visit with the Super Eagles International player and Nantes FC of France forward, Moses Simon who used to be a young player in the barracks.
The novelty match between Little Wonders FC and the popular Lagos team, 36 Lions FC was a thing to treasure as there were tactical introvertive prowess and a display of excellent footballing.
The 60-minute-long football cracker packed with lots of frills and thrills ended 3-2 in favour of Little Wonders to the rapturous claps by the guests and the barracks community present.
The Brigade Commander, Brig. Gen. Saraso noted that “the reason for this event is to encourage our barracks youth who are skilled in various fields. When they told me that they qualified to be in the Lagos State League I said this is good.
“They need to be encouraged so that they can go to the Nigeria National League. That is why I organized this friendly and brought someone who started like them to interact and play with them.
“I feel having someone who started from the same background to watch you play and join you to play and give you a pep talk will, perhaps, give you an encouragement that in some years, we would have many more names that we would celebrate.
“We would do this regularly. I will look for those who started in the barracks community to come and interact with our youths. And not only football. Any group that organize themselves to excel will get support.
“I advise youths in the barracks to continue to be disciplined. They should be models to other youths outside. The barracks is a community of discipline. Their parents belong to a discipline organization so they should borrow a leaf from their parents. They should not allow themselves to be limited by the barracks environment. They should dream higher, push harder, and think beyond”, Brig Gen Saraso reiterated.
On his part, the Special Guest, Moses Simon who gave his club jerseys to Brig. Gen. Saraso also encouraged the two teams with cash support and promotional sports kits, commended the two teams for a well-done job, putting up a good fight to achieve victory in the match.
Moses who joined the Little Wonders in the second half of the match to play against the 36 Lions FC added style and fun to the sporting event.
Speaking shortly after the match, he told the team, “I was once like you in the barracks struggling and pushing so hard and now you can see the results.
“It is good to be a football player. You are not a criminal. Have faith in yourself. Trust in God. It is good to push and push hard. Listen to your coach. Be disciplined.”
He commended the Brigade Commander for the invitation. “Thank you for the invitation. It is an honour and privilege. Thank you for helping the young boys to grow. I feel so happy to be honoured here.”
It is of note that footballers like Wilfred Ndidi, Ojo Adebayo, Candy Augustine, Emmanuel Jonathan, and Monday Yakubu have also emerged out of the barracks in Maryland, Lagos.
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