When Joshua was born 24 years ago, his parents prayed and wished him well. Joshua, just like any other Nigerian child had a dream, a dream deeply rooted in helping to promote his country’s image through football. As destiny would have it, little Joshua started pursuing his dream through street football and grew to represent Nigeria at a higher level of football in the under-17 tournament in faraway South Korea. Joshua and his Golden Eaglets team mates went to South Korea and brought the prestigious honour back home.
Little Joshua and his teammates were upon their return honoured by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua with National Honour of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) and houses in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Sadly, Joshua’s desire to repeat the same fit at the world stage as an under 20 player was cut short and his hope dashed, as on December 12, 2008, his dream collapsed while preparing for another outing with his teammates.
Joshua recalled with tears an accident he had along Minna-Kaduna road while on his way to Kaduna, an accident that has left him paralysed for the past six years without government assistance. He said lack of N5 million has kept him paralysed for the past six years. The MON awardee narrated his ordeal when our correspondent traced him to his father’s dilapidated house in Kaduna where he is taking refuge.
“I don’t mind selling the national honour plaque to get myself fit again. I started my football career on the street at the barracks when my father was still in the Army. I had always wanted to contribute my quota through sports.
“From the street football, I played for a local club known as Shinning Diamond from where I moved to start training with Kaduna Professionals before I was called into the Eaglets Camp by our late coach, Yemi Tela. He picked me among the selected players for the qualifiers of the African Youths Nations Cup.
“After the Nations Cup in Togo in 2007 during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, we came back and the former president hosted us and gave us N500, 000 each.
“After that tournament, we played the Under-17 World Cup in South-Korea in the same 2007 and won the cup.
We came back, the then President, the late Umaru Musa Yar’adua hosted us and gave us national honours; Member Order of the Niger (MON) and also gave us houses in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
After our return from the world cup, I signed a contract with Niger Tornadoes of Niger State and started playing for them. Ladan Bosso who also became our coach after the death of Yemi Tella again called us to camp ahead of the West African Football Union known as WAFU tournament in Nigeria.
“We went for the competition but we were knocked-out by Senegal in 2008. After the tournament, we were again called to resume training and preparation for the Under-20 World Cup and while we were at the camp, I took permission to go to my club and collect N100, 000 allowance. I went to the club and collected the money.
“It was while on my way from Minna to Kaduna to bid my parents goodbye that I had an accident and broke my spinal cord. “When I had the accident, the Niger State government took me to Germany for treatment. They said they spent about N16 million on my treatment in Germany. The German hospital took me to their rehabilitation centre after I had undergone a surgery.
“While we were at the hospital and far from recovery, the Niger State government withdrew their sponsorship and said they had no money to continue with my treatment, that I should be brought back home. “After we came back to Nigeria, my situation became worse; we started moving from one hospital to the other but no solution.
“My Father wrote to the NFF and Kaduna State government for assistance, yet nobody said anything. He did all he could including selling the house former President Yar’adua gave me, still we could not meet the financial demand for me to return to Germany to continue treatment.
“My father died one year ago out of frustration. I feel the federal government has abandoned me after I gave my time and energy to promote the image of my country through football. All I need to be back on my feet is N5 million. Now, I can’t walk; I can’t do anything. I am pleading with the government to come to my aid,” he narrated.
What a sad story! Well meaning Nigerians should kindly gives towards getting this young man on his feet again!
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