For 12-year-old Sajjad Olasukomi Yusuff, football is more than a game. It is a dream, a passion and, increasingly, a platform to create opportunities for other young players.
On a dusty football pitch at Opebi Primary School in Onigbongbo, Lagos, Sajjad saw a familiar ambition in the faces of young footballers gathered for his community outreach, but many of them lacked one of the most basic requirements for the game: football boots.
Some played in worn-out footwear, while others took to the pitch barefoot. Sajjad, who recently returned from the United States, decided to do something about it.
He donated 22 pairs of Adidas football boots to aspiring grassroots footballers during the community outreach on Sunday, 30 August 2026, in an initiative aimed at supporting young players with limited access to football equipment and opportunities.
“I decided to give away free Adidas boots. This programme was to help people in need who don’t have boots and who don’t have as many opportunities as me,” Sajjad told the media.
For the young footballer, the idea of giving back is not new. He said he has been thinking about supporting children in need from an early age after seeing talented youngsters struggle without the resources required to develop their football abilities.
“I’ve been having the idea since I was like three years old. I saw how many kids were in need,” he said.
Sajjad believes Nigeria has an abundance of football talent, but opportunities and access to the right resources can determine how far a young player goes.
He said he has heard stories of talented footballers who failed to progress because they did not have the necessary opportunities or support.
“I know in Nigeria, there’s a lot of talent, and a little help like this could go a long way in helping them realise their football dreams,” he said.
His message is particularly relevant at grassroots level, where many young footballers begin their journeys with limited equipment and support.
For Sajjad, providing a pair of boots is therefore more than a donation. It is a small intervention intended to help a young player train, play and continue believing in the possibility of a football career.
The choice of venue was also deeply personal, Opebi Primary School in Onigbongbo is connected to Sajjad’s family history. His father grew up in the area and played football on the same field, while his uncle also has ties to the pitch.
The ground is also associated locally with the formative football years of Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen, adding another layer of significance to the venue.
Sajjad said he wanted to return to the field where members of his family had played, while beginning a chapter of his own.
“I just wanted to come to the field where my father played and my uncle played, carry on the legacy and also make my own,” he explained.
Sajjad’s mother, Mrs Rafiat Yusuff, said the outreach was driven primarily by her son’s desire to support other children.
“He actually did. It’s something he has always wanted to do. He loves giving. He said, ‘Mommy, I would love to give back to the community.’ I said, okay, let’s get it done. And then we got it done,” she said.
The family has continued to support Sajjad’s football ambitions, while encouraging his interest in community development.
His father rented the field specifically for the outreach, helping create the platform for the young footballers to come together.
“I love my parents a lot. They supported me a lot,” Sajjad said. “I’m happy that they’re doing this for me, and I’ll make sure to repay them in the future.”
The outreach attracted community figures, football coaches, sports personalities and members of the grassroots football community.
Onigbongbo LCDA Vice Chairman Shamsideen Oloyede officially kicked off the event, while grassroots sports enthusiast, journalist and influencer were also in attendance.
Sports personality and social media influencer Sulaiman Pooja joined other guests in supporting the occasion.
But beyond the personalities and cameras, the focus remained on the young footballers who received the boots.
For some of the beneficiaries, the Adidas boots represented more than new equipment. They offered encouragement, a reminder that their talent and dreams are worth investing in.
Sajjad, who continues to dream of becoming a professional footballer, hopes the initiative will become bigger and continue beyond this first outreach.
He also wants to contribute to football development even if his own playing career takes a different path.
“Even if I don’t become a football player, I will try to become either a scout or a coach or a CEO of an academy so they can get as many opportunities as possible,” he said.
At 12, Sajjad Yusuff remains a young footballer with dreams of his own.
But on a dusty pitch in Lagos, he has already taken a significant step towards helping others pursue theirs.
His 22-pair boot donation may be a modest contribution in the wider landscape of Nigerian football, but for the children who received them, it could be the start of a more confident journey, that playing football barefoot is no longer their only option.
