Osaretin Samuel’s journey into the world of basketball started in a means she by no means imagined.
Regardless of displaying no preliminary curiosity in sports activities, she was drawn to the sport via the affect of her classmates at Dom Domingos Faculty in Edjeba, Warri, Delta State.
Standing at 5’11”, she tells PUNCH Sports activities Additional of the surprising path that led to her falling in love with basketball—a journey impressed by braveness and persistence and marked by household challenges and eventual triumphs.
“I used to be 13 after I began taking part in basketball. I used to be in JSS1,” Samuel mentioned.
“How I began taking part in was a humorous one as a result of I wasn’t even within the sport. I noticed a few of my classmates and associates on the basketball court docket after college, making an attempt to throw the ball into the web. For some motive, it was enjoyable to them, regardless that they didn’t know the principles. They invited me to affix them, however I refused as a result of I didn’t need to get injured, and I used to be imagined to be on my means dwelling.”
For some time, Samuel merely noticed from the sidelines, intrigued however hesitant. But, the pull of the sport grew to become irresistible. “I made a decision to affix in the future, realizing absolutely nicely that I used to be going to be in hassle for not telling my mother and father earlier than staying again for apply. However I didn’t need to be neglected of the enjoyable.
“Though I didn’t take the sport critically at first, only for the enjoyable of it,” she added.
Not like many athletes, Samuel didn’t have a background in different sports activities. “I wasn’t into any sports activities as of then,” the 18-year-old mentioned.
This lack of expertise, mixed together with her mother and father’ preliminary disapproval, made her early basketball days fairly difficult.
“My mother and father had been completely in opposition to it at first, particularly my mother,” the small ahead advised PUNCH Sports activities Additional.
“She mentioned I used to be nonetheless little. There have been days after college after I would wait behind for apply, however I made positive to time myself so I may get dwelling early to keep away from getting caned by my mother. However there was one time I went dwelling late, and I knew I used to be in deep trouble; I couldn’t handle time as a result of I liked each minute of being on the court docket.”
Regardless of the challenges, Samuel’s ardour for the game continued to develop. Nonetheless, the strict guidelines at handmade it troublesome for her to completely commit herself to it. That was when a form neighbour, often known as “Aunty Nurse,” stepped in to assist.
“She was my guardian angel, my saviour; she would plead on my behalf at any time when I obtained dwelling late. In the future, she advised my mother about her cousin who travelled overseas via basketball, and she or he inspired my mother to offer me an opportunity to play and see the results of it.
“My mother and father gave in to the concept however not and not using a rule that I need to come dwelling not later than 5 p.m. and do some home chores earlier than going to the court docket. If I didn’t comply, it might be the ultimate bus cease for me taking part in basketball. I agreed as a result of I simply needed to play,” she mentioned.
Samuel skilled each highs and lows as she continued to hone her abilities on the court docket. One among her finest moments got here in 2020, when she travelled together with her college group, Divine Pace Basketball Academy, to take part in a contest.
“That was my first time travelling with out my mother and father,” she mentioned.
“We got here third within the sport, and we got money prizes and medals—my very first medal. I used to be blissful as a result of I had one thing to indicate my mother and father after I obtained again dwelling.”
One other proud second for Samuel was being chosen to characterize Nigeria within the 2023 Giants of Africa camp in Rwanda, one other first. “It was my first time travelling by air,” she recalled.
Her street to success wasn’t with out disappointments, one in all which got here when she wasn’t chosen to play in a sport together with her group in Benin Metropolis, the capital of Edo State, in 2020.
“I wasn’t ok, and I had seniors on my group who may play very well,” she advised PUNCH Sports activities Additional.
There have been occasions when Samuel even thought of quitting basketball, particularly when a number of scholarship alternatives didn’t materialise as she had hoped.
“Sure, I felt like quitting as a result of there have been a number of scholarships that didn’t undergo the way in which I used to be anticipating,” she mentioned.
“I felt like, What’s the essence of taking part in? However I couldn’t stop as a result of there’s a saying I like that goes, ‘Quitters by no means win, and winners by no means stop.’”
Balancing schooling and sports activities was additionally a significant problem for Samuel, however she discovered a solution to mix each with the assist of her coach, Amos Gbonwei.
“I spoke to my coach about it, and he got here up with the concept of me having a structured studying timetable. That wouldn’t disturb my research and basketball, and it did assist,” she advised our correspondent.
Coach Gbonwei, who performed within the Nationwide Sports activities Competition representing Edo State and within the Premier League with Delta Drive, speaks extremely of Samuel’s potential.
“I feel she is a good participant, and she will solely get higher. I don’t assume she has scratched the floor of her potential. Her ceiling could be very excessive,” Gbonwei advised PUNCH Sports activities Additional.
“If she is targeted on basketball and places within the crucial work, I imagine the sky will likely be her stepping stone.”
He recounted his first encounter with Samuel: “She was little or no and tiny in JSS1 on the time. I imagine a good friend of hers introduced her to the basketball court docket as a result of it’s located close to the premises of the college she attended then. I didn’t know if she would turn out to be an excellent participant, however she is a product of onerous work.
“When her friends are at dwelling or watching TV or taking part in with their telephones or doing different frivolous issues, she is in court docket engaged on her sport. On the similar time, she was performing nicely in her lecturers too. She is likely one of the finest gamers I’ve coached, skill- and character-wise.”
Samuel’s desires are crystal clear as she continues to develop her sport. “My dream is to turn out to be one thing nice via basketball, assist my mother and father, my group (the place I began from), construct courts for teenagers to play on and save them from the streets, and assist my coach,” she mentioned with dedication.
“I additionally need to be often known as the most effective shooters from Nigeria.”
Her current call-up to the U-18 D’Tigress group is a milestone she by no means anticipated.
“I wasn’t anticipating it in any respect. I used to be in my mother’s store in the future when a good friend advised me I used to be listed for the U-18 D’Tigress group, and that’s after I obtained a name to come back for the tryouts.
