There are days you will stay and reminisce a whole lot of things about yourself, I know days likes this are times that calls for self-reflection and awareness, I had one of those days today and it made me revisit times I was still trying to pull through like an amateur goal keeper whose only asset was courage and my dream, yes I let my dream stay alive because it was the only thing that stood out for me.

When I came to Israel to sign in for Ashdod Fc, I was still playing international Matches for Nigeria, I knew I needed to penetrate other leagues and experience things outside Nigeria. So the first day I arrived Israel, I landed in Tel Aviv, this was the picture I took on the first match I went to play, I was very young and naive.

![IMG-20250806-WA0011.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmYJryQuvB7AzSHWSuqjnJU613GXPTNpiPWisSpFYnH91p/IMG-20250806-WA0011.jpg) ^{My first match outing in Israel for Fc Ashdod}

I was scared of what was going to be my fate, though before now I had travelled to other countries but I have not spent more than three months, so trying other people's delicacies and all was going to be another tough thing I was going to face. The Coach was welcoming even my teammates, at first because of my Nigerian Accent I couldn't interact properly with others and that went on for like two months then I realized other people were cool with their accent, so why did I even have to hold mine and be ashamed of it? I started communicating with them through Translator because most of them could only speak their native Hebrew language.

Then next picture I am about to share was when I went to the town square, I decided to explore this city alone and see things all by myself, the fear of the unknown started declining, my confidence in the post started shooting up again, I was doing pretty well because of the love I had received from the city. You could say I have the best and formidable teammates and coach. My journey became really smooth, I knew this was the career that will change me and not just financially but morally, socially and otherwise.

![IMG-20250806-WA0013.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmS5TEtsMybdBxCyyA8r7fbxkDXZ24G8GTxngf2eqZFsij/IMG-20250806-WA0013.jpg) ^{At the town square/ Fc Ashdod Center}

The thought of how just a dream was shaped Into something beautiful, something I can look back on and smile, I remember those days when people would laugh at me saying I look more like a man than a woman, those words used to hurt me but when I came down here, I was accepted for me and not for my structure, I was seen far beyond my physical looks and that was how my potentials has been unlocking.

![IMG-20250806-WA0014.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcU2XyZjhd29P69M6ooihfVyHYvXAVxC4n9taVyGs4s8P/IMG-20250806-WA0014.jpg) ^{A superstar still writing her story}

If you have a very big dream that needs you to fly, do not settle with people that are comfortable with crawling, you won't grow, don't try to hide yourself so that other people will be happy, show up irrespective of who it will displease, it only means you weren't in same down league like them. Today's reflection brought back tears of joy, tears and smiles that can only be seen when genuine happiness and joy is being locked in.

It has cost me more than tears to get here and if I can do it then every other person can, start with those little materials you see, begin with that little spoilt laptop you have and even with the little pen you have, you don't know how the universe will work things out for you, it can only get better my friends and believe me if it doesn't get better then you still have to push till it does, there is always a reward for labour.

## I APPRECIATE 💓