Good day!
We will be in action tomorrow for our second match of the season after our Matchday 2 fixture in the Euromatch Nigeria Premier Football League was postponed because of the continental engagements of our opponents. That used to be our lot, though. Gombe is a very interesting place for us, but we will talk about all of that tomorrow morning. For now, let us talk about something that should lift our hearts.
A couple of days ago, the uncertainty surrounding one of our young prospects, Nelson Sule, was finally dispelled. He was unveiled as one of the players staying with us, at least for this season. To an extent, I understand why we don’t always disclose the duration of player contracts in Nigeria, especially when it comes to young talents, and I don’t think we should worry too much about that for now. What matters is that Nelson is here, and he has an opportunity to begin writing his story with the senior team.
Having watched Samuel “Eshiwe” Okechukwu come through the ranks to become a fan favourite despite only playing his first full season for the senior team this season, there is plenty of encouragement for the other boys coming behind him. His journey is a reminder that hard work can eventually open doors. For his former NPFL U-19 teammates, there is now another source of inspiration: Nelson Sule, a boy scouted from Red and Black Flames FC of Oturkpo in Benue State, who has now made Aba his new home.
Sule lit up the N-Youth League, scoring 15 goals in just nine matches as Enyimba U19s pushed their way into the playoffs. His performances earned him a place in the all-star team, where he didn’t disappoint either. Then, towards the end of last season, he got the opportunity to train and play with the senior team in the State FA Cup and President Federation Cup. He responded with two hat-tricks—against Abia Comets in the State FA Cup and Elshama FC in the President Federation Cup—and also scored the winner against Gombe United.
Those performances did more than fill the highlight reel. They paved a path into the senior-team setup. And perhaps, they also offered a glimpse of what could be coming.
For context, our top scorer last season managed 11 goals and two assists in 34 matches. Of course, there is a significant difference between the level of opposition Nelson faced in youth and state/federation cup football and the established NPFL sides our senior team battled throughout the season. That distinction must be made. But 15 goals in nine N-Youth League games, two senior-level hat-tricks and a match-winning goal against Gombe United are numbers that deserve attention. They are certainly enough to make you sit up and wonder what the boy can become with the right development.
Nelson Sule’s eventual promotion to the senior team is therefore a laudable one. We have seen a handful of talented young players given the opportunity to take charge of their own futures, and some of them have shown that the sky really can be the limit. Chibuike Nwaiwu, Daniel Daga and Chibueze Izuogu readily come to mind, particularly during these last three turbulent years. Samuel Okechukwu has now joined that conversation, and Nelson Sule has the opportunity to do the same.
But perhaps the bigger story is not just about Nelson. It is about what his journey says to every young footballer coming through Enyimba’s system. The message is simple: somebody is watching.
You may start from a relatively unknown club in Oturkpo. You may play your football on pitches and in competitions that don’t attract the attention of the biggest names in the game. You may be one of many young boys dreaming about making it. But if you keep scoring, keep working and keep improving, eventually somebody might notice. And when that opportunity comes, you have to be ready to grab it and that is why every Enyimba fan should be excited about this development.
We also know that wearing the Enyimba badge can be extremely heavy, even for experienced players. The expectations are enormous. The shirt carries history, trophies, continental nights and the demands of a fanbase that has become accustomed to success. For young players stepping into that environment for the first time, the weight can be intimidating.
We can only hope that the weight on the shoulders of these new whiz-kids will be light enough for them to express themselves. Let them make mistakes, learn, grow and gradually understand what it means to play for the People’s Elephant. Let them enjoy themselves too. After all, before they become stars, they are still young footballers living out a dream.
Samuel Okechukwu has shown that the journey from the youth setup to becoming a fan favourite is possible. Nelson Sule now has his own road to travel.
Take the world by storm, boys!
Enyimba Enyi!
