Gambling requires judgement; know your limits or stay off it!

June 1990. The wind is blowing nicely; we were under the Appian way trees close the handball court. To my right, the technical equipment delivered to ACA in 1988 that are still in boxes and now is a hiding place for kids or a place to sit on and watch games. To my left, the geography garden that is barely functioning bar the wind vane that was pointing towards the direction where the principal (Chief ERA Babalola) may be coming from to smash the jaws of the naughty guys.

Beside me, my friends. My guys. The ones that I will go to any handball war games with. Adeoba Jaspana Iditike Banji. Wale Orikenke Ogunleye. Ibitoye Alabos Alabi. Tope Carl Lewis Oguntuase. Myself - Tayo “Eegunmagaji” Akeju. Niyi Patani Akinwale. Bisi Eja Adelowo. We have won everything in front of us bar a game (a story of another day!) within the state, we have gone to tournaments together, defied teams across the state in various ways, challenged our seniors to matches, and only lose sometimes when Toyin Fine Boy Apata plays for them.

Guys that were horned in the fire of Coach Gloria tirades, sacrificed pride and honour to train bare-chested in St Louis twice a week for 2 years, quick to plan game strategies against our worst rivals St.Joseph Ondo and Christ School Ado. Drank the well waters on the way to Six infantry brigade courts ( to most, known as Sinsin factory), ate the ripe and unripe mangos on the way and around the courts. There are other escapades that have to be left out just in case their children are reading this 😀...

Back to the story. Niyi Akinwale was talking to Wale Ogunleye as to why we are not getting more goals based on planned plays through the center but Wale, being the playmaker was explaining that teams are focusing on Niyi more resulting in penalties (7m throws). Why won’t they? Niyi scored more goals for the team in 1990 than the rest of the team combined. Jump shots and the accuracy in his shooting relegated flair players like Alabi Ibitoye, Tayo Akeju as well as brute force hammer shots like Adeoba to the side. Wale being Niyi cannon fodder as his decoy. We rotated penalties since most of us were good at it and most times we scored. Then, the rest of us joined in the discussion, sniggering at the goalies that we have faced and made them look stupid. Tope smiled. Our gentle giant captain. Never flapping no matter the situation. In control. Knows what he can do and what he needs from his team. Not Bisi Adelowo😀. Eh? Our utility player. The second keeper, the second pivot, can utilised as a winger. Bisi was like *are you saying your penalties cannot be saved, Niyi?” Toye and I were like 🙆🏾‍♂️? Nibo ni bobo yi wa all year? Niyi has not missed a 7m throw under pressure in 6 months.. Ki eru ba kan oke, o ni ibi ti a gbe si... We park it with Patani. All ways have failed, Patani was the get out of jail free card in the team. Niyi was like Let’s have a test. If I score 4 out of 5 penalties, I win. If you save 2 at any time, you win. Bisi agrees and the game begins. Niyi score 4 penalty straight and is walking away. Bisi was more indignant you won because there was no pressure! Let’s bet and put money on it!. I am crestfallen. Wale has a wry smile as usual. Carl Lewis was pleading to Bisi to walk away. Bisi’s mind was made. Gauntlet was thrown down. I cannot recollect the amount but it was more 50 kobo per game. Niyi quickly won the first two games but Bisi called for double your money. Ha! Egba mi!

Suddenly, I saw Wale and Niyi talking so Tope, Adeoba, Toye and I joined them. “What are you guys discussing?”. Niyi said we need to teach Bisi a lesson. How? Niyi explained- “ we are all hungry right and it seems Bisi has some money. What we need to do is win that money and eat. I will win some and throw the odd games so that he will bet on and think he can win”. Niyi had me at *hungry*. Onijekuje Tayo. I accept. I was hungry and as benevolent as Bisi can be, he will not feed 6 of us, when he is not Dangote or Otedola! We were all in and our job - goad both of them but more importantly, Bisi to ensure he keeps playing.

30 minutes later, Niyi has enough to buy corn for everyone including Bisi. My dear Bisi, worn from his efforts, proud to ask for his money but realizing his abilities compared to abija wara called Patani. The rest of us? We were laughing and told Bisi what has happened. He joined and laughed as well but spent the next hour talking about how close he was to win some games that will have turned the stakes around 😳.. I wish... the good news? He was given a starting place in the next game and took all the 7m throws.. you all know the outcome..😁