Oyeleke, who is a serving National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) member in Kwara State, presently holds the unbeaten record as the best free-kick shooter for the Nigerian amputee national team, scoring the fastest goal against the Kenyan national team at the CANAF 2013 in Nairobi, Kenya.
Recently, he scored another golden goal when he flagged off a talent hunt for physically challenged people in Kwara State to prove that they, too, can play soccer with joy. At the Main-Bowl of Kwara State stadium, his NYSC community development project, which was tagged, First Kwara State Amputee Talent Hunt/Football Tournament was commissioned amidst fanfare.
Campus Sun learnt that Oyeleke was a great footballer before he sustained the injury that nearly nailed his dream. In fact, he was at his best on the pitch that fateful day when the unexpected happened. Amidst tears, he was wheeled out of the field and darkness seemed to have descended on his football career when his right leg was amputated below the knee. He regained consciousness hours later to begin a new life, limping on crutches.
Looking back at that sad moment, he said: “When the accident occurred to me, I felt bad. But I had to move on….to face the realities of life. That prompted me to face the challenges squarely. Through the internet, I got to know about amputee football. I got the contact of the world body, wrote them, and was referred back to the national team of Nigeria, and since 2008, I have been a national team player’, he said.
Oyeleke truned his stumbling block to a stepping stone. He continued his education and later graduated from Federal Polytechnic, Offa, where he studied Computer Engineering Technology. He proved to be a worthy son of Odogun family, Ijagbo, Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State, when he insisted on participating in the mandatory one year national service and was deployed to the Kwara Sports Council, Ilorin as a Batch C NYSC Corps member, with state code KW/14C/4778.
In the national team, where Oyeleke made his mark, he plays as central midfielder. He also plays for Hodipro Amputee Football Club. He said amputee football remains basically the same as the two-legged version, with only some minor adaptations. Only an amputee, one who with his leg cut at or above (proximal) to the wrist or ankle, is qualified to play. Outfielders may have two hands but only one foot. Goalkeepers may have two legs, but only one hand. The game is played without prosthesis, on metal forearm crutches. Wooden crutches are not allowed due to the danger of breaking and splintering. Incidental contact between the ball and a crutch is allowed. But crutches may not be used to advance or direct the ball. Blocking, trapping, or advancing the ball with a crutch is considered a hand pass.
Among the rules are that residual limbs may not be used to advance or direct the ball. That keeps it fair, since someone with longer residual limbs would have a distinct advantage over those with shorter residuals. Incidental contact is ok, but a player may not use the residual limb to trap, block, or pass the ball. Hand pass rules apply. Kick-ins, not throw-ins. Due to the physical demands of the game, substitutions are unlimited and may be made at any stoppage. The offside rule has been eliminated in the game. Shin guards must be worn. An individual with limb birth defects may play in keeping with the spirit of the game – one “unusable.”
The game has rules, which every player must respect. The use of a crutch against another player in an offensive manner could result in the player’s ejection from the game and a penalty kick awarded. Amputee soccer can be played indoors and outdoors. The game consists of two periods of 25 minutes each, with a 10 minute rest interval between periods.
While commending Oyeleke for his determination, the state Coordinator of NYSC, Mr Amusa Moshood Adebayo, expressed joy that the special project took off for the first time in Kwara State. “It’s an indication that corps members are ready to contribute their quota to the overall development of Nigeria. And that many people and organizations supported the project is also a welcome development. That is the essence of the CDS, we want the community to be fully involved’, he said.
Adebayo also commended Oyeleke for his initiative, stressing that the project has proved that the NYSC’s Community Development Scheme was having the desired impact on the lives of the people in the host community. He expressed hope that such initiative would be extended to other parts of the country to bring sunshine on the physically challenged ones.
The state Director of Sports, Coach Tunde Kazeem rallied support for the laudable project. He described Oyeleke as a good ambassador of the NYSC since he started his service year.
Also speaking, the Principal of Oyun Baptist High School (OBHS), Dr. Oloyede Omowumi, who is also the President of Kwara ANCOPPS described the day as glorious, noting that Oyeleke conquered the challenge that threatened his dream.
Oyeleke, who is also the initiator of the Hope for the Disabled Project (HODIPRO) called on the government, philanthropists and parents not to neglect the physically challenged but encourage them to achieve their dreams.
“Parents should not see disability as the end of life. If my parents didn’t support me, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” he said.
He said the project was meant to showcase the talents of the amputees, bringing them together and enlightening the public that the physically challenged ones have a lot to offer the society. “I want to continue from here, to continue to preach the gospel of amputee football in Kwara and beyond. I will create more awareness for the game, and to make it spread first in all the 16 local governments of the state”, he promised.
Having faced tough challenge without flinching, it is obvious that Oyeleke has his eyes set on a higher trophy. He wants to play professional amputee football and bring joy to physically challenged ones living on the fringe of despair. He wants to sow the seed of hope in their depressed hearts, assuring them that they, too, can kick the winning goal even without legs.
“It has been my age-long desire to reach out by exhibiting my potentialities to my fellow physically challenged (amputees) to bring smile on their faces that despite their present predicament, there is still hope for them. To me it is an aspiration come through”, he said.
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