Home Front cover PHOTO ESSAYS LIFE FORCE
The magazine of the photo-essay
Aug 2016 back issue
Surviving Dreams
by Andrew Esiebo
A free, really high quality photo-essay magazine.  Fabulous! Stephen Fry. British actor, writer and film & documentary maker
Surviving Dreams tells the story of Sunny Omini, an ex-football star in Nigeria whose promising career was cut short by injuries. He later worked as a football coach but quit suddenly to become a Christian missionary. Years later he returned to the game, setting up the Signal Meteor Football Academy, a grassroots training academy for young men in danger of social exclusion. Today, he works with around 30 footballers on what he calls a ‘church on a field’, helping them to build a brighter future through soccer.
With a population of more than 180 million, Nigeria is not only the largest country in sub-Saharan African but it may well be the most soccer mad. Any open space, be it an empty ground under a flyover, a beach or a market, can be found transformed into a makeshift football pitch; its players dreaming of becoming Nigerian soccer stars.
Coach/Evangelist Sunny Omini, Initator and director of Signal Meteor Football Academy.
“I was born 55 years in Cross River states to the Omini Family.” (A photo wall of Sunny’s nuclear family).
“I began my education in Kaduna (Northern Nigeria) where my father joined the Nigeria Army in 1959.” (Sunny during his family daily bible study)
In 1968 we move definitely to Lagos where I was able to finish my primary education and proceed to secondary and higher education. (Sunny taking his son to school)
Nigeria is not only the largest country in sub-Saharan African but it may well be the most soccer mad. Any open space, be it an empty ground under a flyover, a beach or a market, can be found transformed into a makeshift football pitch; its player dreaming of becoming Nigeria soccer stars.
“The late 1970s were the peak periods of my soccer career and I got invited to the Nigerian National football team camp in 1978.” (One of the of Signal Meteor Football player getting warmed up for a match).
“It was a very tough, unbelievable situation when I got injured. I was left helpless.” It is common in Nigeria today for those who are injured during games to be left to fend for themselves. Clubs don’t tend to rally round to help injured players as one might expect.
“In 1979 while playing a game against my former team (Abiola Babes FC) I sustained a serious knee injury that kept me out of active soccer.” (A player injured during a match)
“I was in plaster for six month and after then I could not return to active soccer playing. This led to my venture into coaching.”
“In 1983, I began coaching by handling clubs like Jamb FC, Textlon FC , Panalpina FC and Jasper FC. I had a successful coaching experience producing good results for clubs I handled and a couple of Nigerian International footballers.” (Sunny watching his boys during a friendly match).
“I had a tremendous time for seven years enjoying being a worker of God without bothering about materials things or money, as they did not matter to me.” (Sunny leading praise and worships session during the church Sunday service)
“In 2004, a prophecy came to me through a minister of God in my church to return to soccer. Almost immediately I got a coaching job with Jasper FC till 2006 when another revelation came to set up an academy (Signal Meteor Football Academy) which is running till today.”
“My return to the game has taken a different turn.” (Sunny passing work out instruction to his players).
“I consider it a church on the field.” (His players in a prayer session, a practice they engage in before every training or match).
The boys can testify to the great work happening on the field.
“I feel happy that the boys are measuring up very well even though it has not been easy as they lack training equipment but I have stuck my neck out to encourage these boys that I pulled off the streets and out of hooliganism, touting and criminality.” (The goal keeper knotting torn goal net during a friendly match).
“I am working with a very limited budget but I am determined to hold the official launch of the academy which will give the boys a platform from which to start their soccer careers and will prepare them to be future leaders. (Jubilation youth team after winning the Glory Cup, a grassroots tournament meant to discover young soccer talents).
Back to menu Back to current issue