Chapter 4: Fresh Blood Dey Everywhere

I waka go one quiet corner, call my assistant, Ngozi.

"We get any sharp jungler for second team or youth squad?"

"We get o, Aunty Ran! That new guy, Chinedu, for youth team—I watch am yesterday. The guy sabi, both game sense and hand dey sharp."

Ngozi sabi yarn like Lagos conductor—if something dey sweet her, she go talk am three times. I just dey listen, dey process am.

"But Aunty Ran, we just win league. Team dey stable, Seyi still dey go up. Why you dey—"

I look outside window.

Seyi Akanji go soon reach 22. For this business, to say 'dey rise' na just to talk am soft.

For Naija e-sports, once you pass certain age, dem go begin look new blood. I know say Seyi Akanji time dey tick. I remember how some old players just fade when new sharp boys enter scene.

"No worry. I get my reason. I go check youth team tomorrow."

"Okay."

As I dey go club house, Coach Jide and the boys dey review and celebrate.

Na only Seyi Akanji keep head down, dey press phone, dey smile for screen every now and then.

If na before, I for don talk am—no wan make Coach vex, or make people think say na because of me Seyi Akanji dey get special treatment. Dem for just dey gossip am.

But now, I no send.

As I look am, I know say na Rukayat Yusuf e dey chat with.

[The main babe too cute—where she dey see all those bear stickers? Even the guy no fit hold smile.]

[True talk, side chick only care about her career. No wonder Seyi Akanji life dry before…]

[Yes o! The guy don gree go cinema with main babe!]

E dey vex me.

I just close my eyes. I no wan see WhatsApp gist again.

I dey think—

If no be say I beg my papa for small help during uni, open Dream Force club for Seyi Akanji, put all my mind for am—

My papa still dey call me every Sunday to check if club dey make profit. I remember as e borrow me money say make I shine my eye wella, no let person chop me anyhow. All my pocket money, my time, my sleep—I pour am for Seyi future.

Maybe e for still dey do solo queue king.

League number one jungler…

That time, we no even think say we go reach this level.

But now, Seyi Akanji don forget those 18-hour training days, forget how e be to dey dream of top league.

And me, as I see as e dey do like say I no matter, I finally make up my mind—treat am like spare part, once e no dey useful, commot am.

Na so Naija life dey: nobody dey pity you if you no dey on point. I for dey feel bad, but my spirit don dey strong. Person gats dey wise.