One Saturday morning, last December, most of the children were jogging around the stadium. Others stood on the edge of the pitch watching their seniors, mostly teenagers in different colour jerseys, playing football.
One of the boys turned and saw him. He screamed: "Uncle Junior!" Immediately, the others suspended their jogging and ran towards former Dream Team VI winger, Oluwafemi Junior Ajayi. The training session was momentarily abandoned as both teams flocked around him.
Welcome to the Alimosho Community Ground, Iyana Ipaja, a Lagos suburb, where son of the soil Ajayi needs no introduction.
Ajayi, an Al-Ahly of Egypt forward, honed his football skills at the ground which is famous for turning out football talents.
Whenever the player is in the country, he joins his former mates for a training session at the mini stadium. This has endeared him to the youths of the community, who see him as an inspiration.
“He is of our Pros, one of them," a member of Royal Football Academy in Alimosho, told NAIJ.com.
"We have other star players like Rasak Omotoyossi that train here too. But Junior is our man here because he’s very accommodating and simple.
“Whenever he comes to Naija (Nigeria), this is the first place he comes to train."
Speaking later in an exclusive chat with NAIJ.com, Ajayi revealed why he remains attached to the ground which he refers to his ‘roots’.
“The Alimosho Community Ground is where my dad’s club, Ajayi Babes, used to train after his demise; a good man took over the mantle of leadership and changed the name to the Royal Academy. On my part, I learnt the ropes of the game here as an amateur even though I’ve gone Pro, I’m still attached to the ground.
“Anytime I find time to be home, I always come around to play and encourage my former mates and other youths around,” admitted the 22-year-old, who recently tied the nuptial knots with his long time girlfriend Tamilore Tahwakhalat in Lagos.
Speaking further, Ajayi noted that the gesture of training with the youths at the Alimosho Community Ground was his own little way of giving back to society.
“Yes of course. This is my own little way of encouraging the young ones, including myself, to keep working on our game. They still have room for improvement and encouragement…We look forward doing better with time,” he told NAIJ.com.
Interestingly, Ajayi in a recent interview with the club’s official website revealed that he’s looking forward to achieve more with his Egyptian side in both the CAF Champions League and at the domestic fronts.
Al Ahly star Junior Ajayi. Photo: @Ajayi_jnr
“As I keep saying, Al Ahly is my gateway to any success and I’m now fully focused on my performance with Al Ahly so that I may achieve more success, whether it’s on a personal level or with the national team,” Ajayi noted, even as he was quick to add that he will not fancy being awarded the season’s top scorer at the detriment of the team.
“Certainly it is a personal title, which every attacker seeks to get it because it is a legitimate right, but not to the detriment of the team,” he said.
READ ALSO: Russia 2018: Why Super Eagles’ jersey could mean 'bad luck'
Responding further, Ajayi, applauded the manner the fans welcomed him following his switch to the Red Castle from Tunisian side, CS Sfaxien in 2016.
“Al Ahli fans are very great value. Without them, the team will not continue in their achievements.
“On a personal level, they are always supportive to provide the best and achieve our goals.”
Asked if he has been contacted by handlers of the national team in recent time, and whether he will be joining the Nigerian team to Russia 2018?
He said: “I do not think about this so as not to distract my focus. All I have to do now is to continue giving my best with Al Ahly; to prove my right to play and to score goals so that I can be confident and take responsibility whenever I’m invited to the team,” added Ajayi, who was part of Nigeria’s squad for the 2016 Olympic Games but is yet to be called up to the Super Eagles squad.
PAY ATTENTION: Like our Facebook sports page to stay in touch with latest sports news
Suprisingly, in a sudden U-turn, the Al Ahly forward, before hitting his 8th Egyptian Premier League goal against El Entag El Harby on 24-03-18 seems to have sent a ‘Check me out’ message to Eagles Technical Adviser Gernot in a tweet last week Thursday.
Born on January 29, 1996, has played for 3SC of Ibadan before joining Tunisian side CS Sfaxien in 2015.
A member of the bronze winning Dream Team IV to the 2016 Olympics’ in Brazil, Ajayi remains humble despite all the achievements in his young career and will not want to talk about one striking incident that still comes to his mind, even though he wants to forget.
However, after much appeal and persuasion, he opens up…
“Okay…my late dad used to be my No. 1 fan. Losing him in 2008 remains the lowest point in my career,” he told NAIJ.com, in an emotion laden voice.
Currently, valued at $2.5m, Ajayi is placed 10th with eight goals in the Egyptian Premier League Top scorers’ chart. He was the only Nigerian in CAF best XI.
Top 5 Nigerian football players: who is the best? On NAIJ.com TV
Source: Sports.naija.ng
from Latest Sport News | Today on Naija.ng http://ift.tt/2CX9XWj
via IFTTT
