“If a goalkeeper misplaces a goal kick or screws up a pass, everyone’s a critic. Yet no one notices when they send it cleanly, over and over, to a teammate who’s 20 or 40 or 75 yards away. People take it for granted, but there’s a definite skill there.” — Benjamin Yates

One of the less recognised players in world football are the goalkeepers.

They are less valued and appreciated, even with their heroics making their clubs or countries earning points or victories.

Some of them have been ignored or denied with special recognitions and awards despite ticking all boxes to win individual awards

This trend of less value for safe hands have been on for years and its discouraging young footballers to venture into goalkeeping.

However, some young players still believe in making it big in the round leather object by manning the sticks.

Some of them is Lobi Stars’ goalkeeper, Faith James.

The 21 year old safe hand joined the Makurdi based side at the start of current campaign from Remo Stars and has quickly settled into the team starting Lobi’s first 12 matches of the season.

Faith spoke to Wale Mustapha about how he choose goalkeeping over being an outfield player despite his excellent football skills and who inspired him.

Early Life:

“I was once a footballer when I started playing, I was an attacker but circumstances and zeal to make it in football made me to switch to goalkeeping.

“I went for a trial at one academy called Rocky Stars Football Academy in Lagos and they told me I won’t have a chance to play because I was too small and there were more big players that haven’t been tried. The only space they can allow me to play is goalkeeping, then I was so desperate to just try my luck so I collected gloves and did very well. From then on, I’ve been taking it serious.

James’ Football Sojourn

The faith James had in making it big in football as a goalkeeper spurred him to tried out his luck at different clubs.

He’s played for My People FC, Gateway United, Osun United, FC Ebedei, Remo Stars and now keeping the sticks for Lobi Stars.

“I went to Osun United in 2013/14 season, and that was when my parents would accepted fully to play football, initially, I do sneak to training and at time I will lie to them I was going for tutorials but used those times for training.
But I didn’t stay long at Osun United which wanted to affect me.

“Then I went to FC Ebedei to train with them. I was there for three months, from there I joined My People FC played for them till they promoted to Nationwide Division 1. I was also in the team when they played in the NNL and kept almost all the matches that season.

It was there my brother arranged for a trial at Remo Stars when they were in the NNL. It was touch period for me before I could had be picked because they felt I was small but I never worried till I proved myself that I deserved to play there.

I had my proudest moments with Remo Stars because we helped the team gained promotion to NPFL.

My good work, faith and believe earned me where I am now and I’m grateful for the opportunity given by all the clubs I’ve played till where I am now.”

Loosing Hope:

The 21 year old goalkeeper revealed that he almost lost hope in furthering his career at some point but one player inspired him to renew his believe.
That player was Juventus and Italy goalkeeper, Gialluigi Buffon.

“At some point when I was at Osun United, I almost quit because I was demoralised. I couldn’t get game time and was frustrated, then they dropped me at week 9 to the season.

“When I went back home, I was watching some football clips on phone, then I stumbled on Buffon videos. I was marvelled with the way he keeps. Initially I thought he was using charm to aid his game but when I studied him well I realised he was at some point not doing well and then later became highest paid keeper in the world. So I studied him well how he keeps, how he prepares himself for games and trainings then my spirit rise again and from then on I’ve been thanking God.

Shocking Move to Lobi Stars:

After the disappointing season with Remo Stars that resulted into the club’s relegation to NNL, James was asked to be dropped from the team ahead of preseason campaigns but the changed their decision and retained him.

James was still keeping faith of proving himself to the coaches at Remo Stars during one of the preseason tournaments they participated.

He wasn’t used until the last game after it was clear they wont make it to knockout stages.

The soft spoken keeper was thrown into the game against Lobi Stars and had 11 saves which earned him man of the match award.

That was how Faith was snapped by Lobi for new NPFL season.

Faith kept James in Makurdi

In the midst of notable goalkeepers Lobi Stars paraded, no one would give James any chance of having game times.

The club blessed with veteran goalkeepers like Moses Ocheje, Emmanuel Daniel and Daniel Atsaka, one can imagine where James would be in the pecking order.

But like they say in football, impossible is nothing.

He waited till Matchday three before getting a look in where he was asked to deputise for Ocheje.

As at Week 5, James thrown into fray for his first start with Lobi in far away Gombe where they would play Adamawa United.

Surprisingly, he kept a clean sheet and ensured Lobi ran out victorious with 1-0 win.

From then on, he never looked back as he kept 13 straight matches after Adamawa match with five clean sheets.

Looking ahead to future as National team player:

I’m not too desperate but its my wish to play for Nigeria.
I look like great goalkeepers like (Vincent) Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Daniel Akpeyi and I discovered that these men didn’t have two heads, they were good and lucky to play for Nigeria which give me hope and confidence that if I keep on doing well too, I can get a look in and wear national team jersey and play for Nigeria.

Lessons derived from life and as a goalkeeper:

I’ve learned a lot being a goalkeeper. It has taught me to always keeping focus and concentrate. I’ve also realised that, in life, even with all your hard work, its possible you don’t get the praise or commendation you required, and we shouldn’t allow that to demoralise us. 10 best saves in a match may not be talked about but one error can be subject of discussion for a whole season, that’s kind of life we keepers live in but we should always pick positives within us and keep on doing what we love doing with prayers and hard work, luck will surely shine on us.

  Lobi Stars, Nigeria, NPFL