‘There was a time I found it hard to even control the ball’ – Unilorin SU UFL D’OR Winner, Adedeji Genesis

Ibrahim Faruq Olamilekan

From grappling with basic ball control to being crowned the best player in the highly competitive Unilorin Football League (UFL), Adedeji Genesis Samuel Oghenefejro embodies a remarkable journey of perseverance and triumph. The JAD FC star recently won the Unilorin SU UFL D’OR award.

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In an exclusive interview with THE LAGOS VOICE, Genesis opens up about his “grace to grass and back to stardom” story, offering insights into the mental, physical, and financial battles he overcame.

From Warri to Unilorin: The Journey Begins

“I’m Adedeji Genesis Samuel Oghenefejro. I’m from Ilesa, Osun State. I was born and brought up in Warri, Delta State. I’m technically a South-South boy,” Genesis introduced himself.

He plays for JAD FC in the University of Ilorin Football League, a team he joined for his debut season.

Recalling his early days, Genesis admitted, “My debut season, I’ll say, wasn’t bad, but I knew there was space for improvement, a lot of it.”

His first game with JAD FC was a tough 3-0 friendly loss to Zeus FC, where he first encountered “the greatest player in the history of Unilorin league, Fashanu Michael (FASH); he was a spectacle to behold, as always.”

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Despite the loss, his coach, Samloco, instilled confidence, leading to a respectable debut season in Unilorin League 6.0, where he scored six goals in 12 games.

The dark days for Unilorin SU UFL D’OR Winner, Adedeji Genesis

Genesis revealed a period of intense struggle, “We didn’t really have a league season last year due to one reason or another, but it was a tough year last year; I would say I got injured a lot, couldn’t play well, couldn’t train well, there was a time I found it hard to even control the ball; things were really tough, financially as a student, my career, my fitness as well. Those were dark days; I ain’t gonna lie.”

During this challenging period, Genesis credits his support system, “I had some help from my people, my coach (Samloco), my teammates, and even Alone Media spoke to me once about my form, which inspired me to do more.”

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He expressed profound gratitude for Coach Samloco, calling him “a blessing to me. He helped me through it all, fought for me, supported me; he is truly more than a coach, a father figure I would say.”

The turnaround for Genesis

Genesis’s resurgence was fueled by an inner conviction: “I believed in myself, remembered why I started this in the first place, and got up and kept going. No one’s coming to save you until you save yourself first,” he asserted.

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His belief paid off spectacularly in the Unilorin SU 7.0 league season. “This year, however, has been nothing short of wonderful and spectacular; my best season with JAD FC yet,” he beamed.

He continued, “We won our first major trophy outside the school; I scored a penalty in the final as well. We won the Unilorin SU 7.0 league (I scored in the final league game against SkillzB). We got to the super 4 final (I missed a penalty in that one). In all things, we give thanks to God… Alhamdulliah.”

Being crowned the UFL D’OR winner is a great honour for me. “First, I would love to say that the Unilorin League isn’t a joke. People might say it’s just a school league; they’re just students,” Genesis emphasised.

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He highlighted the growing influence of UFL teams: “JAD winning an external competition this year shows that we’re not just students; teams like JAD FC, Zeus FC, City Boys, Skillz FC have been making waves across the Kwara Footballing community. And I know very soon, we’d be growing more than just Kwara state… The whole country needs to know about this league and its student-athlete.”

Lessons and Advice from a Champion

Genesis openly discussed the unseen struggles behind success.

He said, “People only see your talent, your shine, and all, but they don’t know that behind all these, there’s struggle, mental fight, financial hustles, moments when you feel dejected after a bad game or when you didn’t perform to your level. These things mess with your mindset as a player. Let’s not talk about the injuries; there’s a whole lot to this.

“You have to have a fortified mindset to be able to overcome and come out victorious, like they say in the Yoruba proverb, ‘Elemi lo ma last.'”

His advice to young players facing similar challenges is simple yet powerful: “My advice for everyone, not just footballers, is to keep going. It’s not over until you win, and I promise you, you will win because God is with you.”

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He added that the award serves as a motivator for him. “It means a whole lot, to be honest. I think we are about 100 players in the league this season, and to be crowned number 1, the best, it’s an honour. It goes to show me that I can do more because there’s more to do, and I’m capable of more. Genesis GG isn’t a joke, and it’s proof of it. I am proud of myself, yeah.”

A future of continued stardom

Reflecting on his journey, Genesis remains grounded and ambitious.

He said, “The lessons I’ve learned are that I’m destined for a whole lot more. That’s why I keep getting these challenges, and I keep overcoming them. This is only the beginning.”

As for his final thoughts, Genesis concluded with a confident outlook: “We’re only getting started… there’s still a whole lot to be achieved… Time will tell.”