The dream of becoming a professional goalkeeper felt more like a reality and found solitude in the 8-year-old boy’s heart. The moment he discovered his impressive agility abilities in goal ( he already learnt to do the somersault by 5! ), he fell in love with goalkeeping, so much it inspired creativity through drawing, sketches, making football’s from old newspaper nothing to do with poverty.. more on this later, and making personal gloves inspired by top brands at the time. The main reason for this was because it was a dream to own a branded pair, which was an elusive reality. The process he went through to create his gloves and the excitement he got when the gloves where done swept away any negative psychological feelings he harboured during his young years. The young “fear-based reality” years were combinations of lost dreams and unfavourable conditions of reality

The boy’s artistry was impressive indeed! During his not so many spare times, he would get his pencil and drawing book and sketch goalkeeping dives copied from football comic book mags, the likes of Tommy’s Troubles, Nipper, Hot Shot Hamish, Roy of the Rovers, Wheelchair Wonder and many more. He would make his sketch a bit more spectacular than the comics through his imagination, prompting him to re-enact his imaginations on the pitch when given the chance and/or support. He found his sweet spot every time he had the opportunity to be the kid stopping goals by all means possible. He was known as The Kat among his peers due to his amazing agility when goalkeeping and it wasn’t until he was about 10 years of age he got spotted by a professional goalkeeper who played for a leading club in the country’s football league. It transpired that the football club trained at a local football pitch close to where the boy attended a primary private school on specific days every week…

” You are an amazing kid, where did you learn how to dive like that?”

… he asked the kid having seen his display, the kid replied, “thank you very much, sir I always watch you train”

Then the Goalkeeper asked the little boy the question that could potentially guide him to his dreams…

“Would you like to play for the club’s under- 13s?”

Although the boy was taken aback and flattered he said without skipping a heartbeat…

” I’m sorry I cannot accept the offer because my Daddy will not support this plus I will get into trouble so it’s best he doesn’t know about this”

The goalkeeper was shocked and confused at what the little boy just said to him. He actually offered to talk to his dad but the little boy refused… tbc