Chapter 5: When New King Dey Rise

Ngozi bring Chinedu come meet me as I dey chop chin chin.

The boy just bend head, voice low: "Good afternoon."

Na respect dey show for him voice, like proper Yoruba pikin. I wipe my hand, adjust my glasses.

E wear blue and white shirt. Under him fringe, e black eyes just dey look me straight.

I nod. Carry my black leather jacket from gaming chair, stand up, ready go watch their scrim.

Na Chinedu first match as jungler for youth team, dem dey play against second team.

Chinedu pick one hero wey need sharp hand. All the combo wey e dey do, I no even fit follow, but as e dey press, the match finish sharp sharp—dem just wipe the floor with the other team.

The way e dey move hand, you go think say e dey play ayo. Some of the boys dey hail am, others just dey shake head. Talent no dey hide, na so e be.

Ngozi rush come, dey hype: "Aunty Ran, I tell you say Chinedu na beast. Just clock 18, perfect for age cut-off."

"Dream Force don hammer—Seyi no go worry about who go replace am."

Replace am?

I just smile, no send.

As I remove eye from Seyi Akanji, e no too look like superman again for my eye.

E get talent. But all these years, na me arrange endless scrims for am, even use Wen family connect get league slots for am. No be something?

For this Lagos, person fit use connection buy chance, but na talent dey keep you. As I dey think am, I just feel say my sense dey correct.

After I think small, I say, "Move Chinedu straight to second team."

"Give am priority for coaching and living support."

"But Aunty Ran…"

"Do as I talk."

As Ngozi see say I serious, she gree.

I turn dey go, but look back one more time at Chinedu, wey still dey do review with him guys.

Opportunity suppose reach who deserve am. Even if person don dey second team since, for e-sports, if you no strong, na your wahala. If you sabi, nothing else matter.

That one na street sense. If you slack for Lagos, person go carry your seat. I dey proud say I dey move fast.