October 1986. We have just finished training at Six infantry brigade ( known to most as *sinsin factory*). Coach Gloria has told us to sit down. It has been tense training session; with everyone trying to show their skills. The goal - to be picked for the inaugural handball tournament for school in Ondo State. U-12, U-15 and U-18 boys and girls. We all knew if we get in and play, we have a shot at being called up to the state camp for the U-15 tournament in Minna and U-12 tournament in Sokoto in 1987 (it was cancelled). Some of us were still fresh from the U-12 national tournament in Ogun state earlier in the year. Coach Gloria split the teams. Toye Alabi, Wale Ogunleye, Bisi Adelowo and I (Tayo Akeju) were drafted into the U-12 team with some other Form 2 students like Dipo Alabi, Yemi adeniyi (of blessed memory) and Bayo Ogun. All my friends in the U-12 were also drafted into the U-15 team alongside Niyi Akinwale, Segun Ikumapayi, Adeoba Banji amongst others. Debola Adesida was drafted with the U-18s. We were happy, we prepared because there was a cold war that we were aware of.
There were two national coaches in Ondo state. Coach Gloria, who coached in Akure and Coach Bayo in Ondo who developed students from St Joseph’s, St. Monica and amongst others. They were rivals but their approach to development were different. Gloria was military like, believed in strength and stamina with determination whilst Bayo was skill driven with vision and awareness. Both produced great players and are competitive and our best results were when they worked together. Forget that. It is about their egos now. Gloria was the Mourinho of our time and Bayo, Arsene Wenger. Both wanted to lay a marker down and both knew where their strength were. Bayo knew his girls will win U-12, U-15 and U-18 groups and Gloria know his boys will win U-12, U-18 and the men’s invitational. That left the boys U-15. Both sides had seasoned players and were equally matched so the focus was in this area. Toyin was drafted into the U-15’s to strengthen the team. With Toyin, we were invincible. With Niyi and I on the wings and Toyin, Wale and Adeoba in the back and Toye as pivot, it will take the rest of state and more to get close as we will out score any team. We were Man City of 2018/19 or Liverpool of 2020.
Tournament day. There was a screening process and some people were considered over age for their groups and were moved up to the next category. The screening favoured us generally but Toyin did not make the cut for U-15 as well Sunday Adiedipe ( a year our senior). We were ok; at least the rest of us were at the last U-12 tournament in Ogun state earlier in the year bar Adeoba and Tope ( their growth sprout was faster than ours and their voice had broken; though Adeoba was older than us so I am not surprised) . Tournament went as expected with the expected teams winning their expected games. Then came the game that decides who has won most games - U-15 boys final.
The game lived up to expectation - jump shots were scored and saved, feints were executed successfully and failed, game plays were ran with equal results of failure and success. 25 minutes of a 30 minutes game, scores were tied at 5-5. Several attacks were thwarted and time was running out. We are in the last 45 seconds and the scores are now tied at 6-6. St Joseph has just taken a shot and Bisi Adelowo has saved it and now we were attacking and had control of the game. Gloria was shouting that we use the “drawing” play which helps create an overload somewhere in the centre , someone free on the wings or the pivot in the centre. The point was - it will end up with Niyi, Toye and I. I was the top scorer in these times and Niyi not far behind. Toye rarely misses. So it was a banker. What we have not factored in was the doggedness of the opposition. Niyi and were cut out so that we do not touch the ball. Wale was controlling the play with Segun and Adeoba being told to be patient and an opening will come. Worst case scenario, it will go into extra time. How wrong we were! After a series of fouls and 9m restarts and time running out, people were tensed, pressure getting to people and Adeoba decide to be brave.... or stupid, it depends on my perspective when you ask me. Thinking time is running out, Adeoba receives the ball and hurls a force shot towards the goal. It had the components of the two cardinal sins you can commit in handball, it is straight at the keeper and he can see it coming. Not only did the keeper save it, he caught it with both hands and launched a counter attack. Within a blink of an eye, they had scored at the other end. The final whistle was blown. We lost 7-6. We all turned to look at Adeoba. I felt for him; but I was equally angry. Wale walked off seething but concealing his anger, the others walked off while opposition celebrated.
One action. An action taken under pressure with an outcome that adversely affected the collective. Atonement came with this as that was the last game we lost for the rest of our secondary school life. We learnt a lot that day... we are better men for it...
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