The recent risk I took that paid off.

Recently, I took a risk that many people around me didn’t quite understand. It had nothing to do with money or business, but it involved supporting a young girl, just a little over 15, who had a passion for football, even when her parents weren’t in support of her dream.

She was just an ordinary street footballer when I first noticed her. Her energy, her determination, and the way she carried herself on the pitch stood out. But as bright as her future looked, her chances were very slim. Her parents didn’t see football as something worth chasing. To them, it was just a game, not a career. But I saw something else. I saw talent. I saw drive. And I saw the kind of hunger that you don’t see every day.

So I took a bold step. I decided to support her, not because I had everything figured out, but because I believed in her. I connected her with the Arising Star Soccer Queens, a team that was founded in 2020 and has been grooming young female players with real potential. She made it into the junior team, and from there, things started to change.

She began training regularly, learning discipline, structure, and team spirit. Though I was not always around to take photos of their training sessions.

watching this once-ordinary street footballer become part of a recognized team was a thing of joy. It was not easy convincing her parents, but over time, as they saw her transformation and the seriousness of the opportunity, they began to slowly come around.

It wasn’t just a risk of time or resources, it was a risk of going against the grain. It was standing for someone that nobody was willing to stand for. But now, watching her wear the jersey of the Arising Star Soccer Queens, I feel proud. The little effort I made is already paying off. Her confidence has grown, and her skills have improved greatly. She now walks with her head high, knowing she has a chance at something bigger.

This teams senior team just recently won the (WAFA) tournament.

This whole journey has taught me that not all risks are about personal gain. Sometimes, the biggest risks are taken on people, and the reward is seeing them succeed. I’ve also learned that all some young talents need is just one person to believe in them, and I’m glad I was that person for her.

She may still be in the junior team for now, but the journey has begun. She’s no longer just a street footballer, she’s now a part of something bigger, and her future in football looks brighter than ever.

All photos are mine.