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 Further of the sudden 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 stated.
“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 mates on the basketball court docket after college, making an attempt to throw the ball into the online. For some motive, it was enjoyable to them, despite the fact that they didn’t know the principles. They invited me to hitch them, however I refused as a result of I didn’t need to get injured, and I used to be alleged to be on my means house.”
For some time, Samuel merely noticed from the sidelines, intrigued however hesitant. But, the pull of the sport turned irresistible. “I made a decision to hitch sooner or later, understanding absolutely nicely that I used to be going to be in bother for not telling my dad and mom earlier than staying again for follow. However I didn’t need to be unnoticed of the enjoyable.
“Though I didn’t take the sport severely 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 stated.
This lack of expertise, mixed along with her dad and mom’ preliminary disapproval, made her early basketball days fairly difficult.
“My dad and mom have been completely in opposition to it at first, particularly my mother,” the small ahead instructed PUNCH Sports activities Further.
“She stated I used to be nonetheless little. There have been days after college after I would wait behind for follow, however I made positive to time myself so I might get house early to keep away from getting caned by my mother. However there was one time I went house 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 hand-crafted it troublesome for her to totally commit herself to it. That was when a form neighbour, referred to as “Aunty Nurse,” stepped in to assist.
“She was my guardian angel, my saviour; she would plead on my behalf each time I obtained house late. At some point, she instructed my mother about her cousin who travelled overseas via basketball, and she or he inspired my mother to present me an opportunity to play and see the results of it.
“My dad and mom gave in to the thought however not with out a rule that I have to come house not later than 5 p.m. and do some home chores earlier than going to the court docket. If I did not comply, it will be the ultimate bus cease for me taking part in basketball. I agreed as a result of I simply wished to play,” she stated.
Samuel skilled each highs and lows as she continued to hone her expertise on the court docket. Considered one of her finest moments got here in 2020, when she travelled along with her college workforce, Divine Velocity Basketball Academy, to take part in a contest.
“That was my first time travelling with out my dad and mom,” she stated.
“We got here third within the sport, and we got money prizes and medals—my very first medal. I used to be joyful as a result of I had one thing to indicate my dad and mom after I obtained again house.”
One other proud second for Samuel was being chosen to signify Nigeria within the 2023 Giants of Africa camp in Rwanda, one other first. “It was my first time travelling by air,” she recalled.
Her highway to success wasn’t with out disappointments, considered one of which got here when she wasn’t chosen to play in a sport along with her workforce in Benin Metropolis, the capital of Edo State, in 2020.
“I wasn’t adequate, and I had seniors on my workforce who might play rather well,” she instructed PUNCH Sports activities Further.
There have been instances 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 stated.
“I felt like, What’s the essence of taking part in? However I couldn’t give up as a result of there’s a saying I like that goes, ‘Quitters by no means win, and winners by no means give up.’”
Balancing schooling and sports activities was additionally a serious problem for Samuel, however she discovered a technique to mix each with the help of her coach, Amos Gbonwei.
“I spoke to my coach about it, and he got here up with the thought of me having a structured studying timetable. That wouldn’t disturb my research and basketball, and it did assist,” she instructed our correspondent.
Coach Gbonwei, who performed within the Nationwide Sports activities Pageant representing Edo State and within the Premier League with Delta Pressure, speaks extremely of Samuel’s potential.
“I feel she is a superb participant, and she will solely get higher. I don’t assume she has scratched the floor of her potential. Her ceiling may be very excessive,” Gbonwei instructed PUNCH Sports activities Further.
“If she is concentrated on basketball and places within the needed work, I imagine the sky shall 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 buddy 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 develop into an excellent participant, however she is a product of laborious work.
“When her friends are at house 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 identical time, she was performing nicely in her lecturers too. She is among 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 develop into one thing nice via basketball, assist my dad and mom, my workforce (the place I began from), construct courts for youths to play on and save them from the streets, and assist my coach,” she stated with willpower.
“I additionally need to be referred to as the most effective shooters from Nigeria.”
Her current call-up to the U-18 D’Tigress workforce 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 sooner or later when a buddy instructed me I used to be listed for the U-18 D’Tigress workforce, and that’s after I obtained a name to come back for the tryouts.