Super Eagles’ player, Ola Aina is from Ikenne, the base of Nigeria Premier League title contender, Remo Stars. Although the player has never been to Ikenne since he was born in Southwark, South London on 8 October 1996, the third anniversary of Nigeria’s first World Cup qualification and also the 47th year since Nigeria’s first ever international match, his father, Olufemi Aina was Ikenne on Saturday to watch what he later revealed as his first ever match in his home town.
He was not disappointed. His home town team Remo Stars achieved a double over visiting Bayelsa United win 1-0 to follow up with an earlier 2-1 away win.
This is awesome, an elated Olufemi Aina remarked. Earlier, when Sports Village Square contacted him to enquire about Ola Aina’s ancestral home, he was shocked to be informed that Nigeria’s top tier league matches are also being played in Ikenne.
Before the Remo Stars versus Bayelsa match which was played under floodlights, Ola Aina’s dad went round the facilities at the Remo Stars Stadium.
The first point of call was the office block which is equipped with panoramic lift to first-floor which is the table tennis centre.
On getting inside, he exclaimed, saying he never imagined such a facility could exist in Nigeria, let alone his own small town of Ikenne.
More astonishing to him was the fact that the facility is owned by an individual, Kunle Soname.
This is comparable to what I am used to at the Chelsea academy in London, said Mr. Aina who also remarked that he never knew there could still be another rich man in Nigeria who has tremendous passion for football.
“I thought it was only the late MKO Abiola that has the capability of putting together a facility of this nature.
“This man, (Soname) earns my maximum respect.”, said Mr. Aina who at that point had never met the Remo Stars proprietor.
“I am used to sports facilities having been the one taking Ola to different academies when he was a teenager. “This place reminds me of Chelsea facilities.”
In the block were a gym, clinic, indoor swimming pool, hydrotherapy chamber, boardrooms and clinic.
Next point of call was the restaurant being used by the pupils at the Beyond Limits Football Academy. The aroma and ambience was breathtaking. On the walls were messages of inspiration to the pupils and footballers.
He met some of them at the common room where they were playing computer games. Mr. Aina introduced himself and told them of the tremendous privileges the players are enjoying and admonished them to make the best of the opportunity.
Mr. Olufemi Aina, father of Super Eagles ace wingback, Ola Aina speaks with some players of Beyond Limits Football Academy, Ikenne
The matron later informed Mr. Aina of the daily routine of the players and the level of discipline they are are exposed to.
Ola Aina himself had earlier told Sina Okeleji in a report published in Aljazeera of the sacrifices his dad had made to ensure he had a blossoming football career.
His parents often worked several jobs. At one time, his mother Esther had four just to put food on the table for her four sons – Michael, Ola – the second born, Jordan and Benjamin.
When Ola started playing with Chelsea, his dad would pick him up in his shabby car from training after their work shifts, getting back home just before midnight.
Ola would be up for school again the next morning.
The situation got worse when his dad, unable to hold onto jobs because of his commitments to his Ola’s training, lost their house.
“A bleak time for the whole family, and for me,” said Ola told Aljazeera. “That was a life lesson.”
As the Remo Stars versus Bayelsa United match was on, Olufemi Aina while soaking the tension of the duel was also monitoring on-line the proceedings in the English Premier League encounter of Nottingham Forest and Liverpool.
Ola did not feature in the match as he is still nursing the injury he had during the Africa Cup of Nations last month, his father was still interested in the son’s club’s fortunes.
He later called him while Ola was in the club’s bus returning to the hotel after their 1-0 home loss.
Ola’s father said that knowing that top flight football is now played in his home town is enough encouragement for him to often come home. “Ola too, will be here to see what is happening in our ancestral home, Mr Aina said.
