Jonathan Akpoborie Writes Tribute To Sebastian Brodericks–Imasuen

Jonathan Akpoborie @akpoborie

The Golden eaglets we’re playing a friendly match against my team, FHA at the St Gregories ground that morning, and my own best friend was the one to stop me from scoring a goal for the Golden eaglets. This was three weeks before the team departed for China.

Sabara called me and cautioned me to stay calm and play very simple football. I acknowledged and the game started.

Ten minutes into the game and I was already on the floor, in front of the opponents goal line, with a knee injury that was inflicted by my best friend, three weeks before our first game in against Italy in Dalian China.

After this injury, the coaches had a long discussion that evening with the doctor that was assigned to the team. From all indications, it was very positive, so I was not even allowed to touch the ball during training the next day. In fact I could not walk properly.

Some few days later, Sabara then had a meeting with his coaches and forcefully decided he was going to take me to the World Cup. In fact, I could not believe it myself.

When we got to china, the progress of the injury was clear for everybody to see, and with the help of the Chinese medical support, I started jogging. From the quarter final I started playing against all odds.

In the eleventh minute of the final against Germany, the moment arrived when I paid back that trust given to me by the coach that shaped up my confidence in world football.

When I hugged him after the game in jubilations, his words I will carry with me all through my career. Sebastian Imasuen Brodericks, may your soul rest in perfect peace ✌️