The beauty of an amateur football league is its high propensity to produce future stars, as it provides a platform for budding talents to nurse their skills to maturity.
The Nationwide League One ( Nigeria third tier league ) has over the years been fulfilling this objective and the 2024 season is already fulfilling expectations of new discoveries of future football greats.
One of such is Raheem Salaudeen. He plays for Buruj FC, playing in the Maracana 2 Centre. He drives attention not only with his small stature but also through his giant football skills and abilities on and off the ball.
The diminutive, young footballer was the cynosure of all eyes at the Maracana Centre as the Buruj FC number 10 with deft touches of the ball, his off – the – ball movement and his passes were a delight to watch.
Raheem’s courage to play against bigger and older opponents, imposing his game without fear is beyond his age.
Who is Raheem Salaudeen?
The prodigy was born on 13th of May 2010, he had his first break at fulfilling his childhood dream of becoming a great footballer when he first played in the NLO at 13, one of the youngest ever to play in the league.
The higher secondary school class 1, (SS1) student, made his debut in the league in the 2023 edition, playing his second season in the NLO before attaining age 14, an attestation to his inborn football talents.
His sublime football skills got the attention of the handlers of the future Eagles, Nigeria U15 national team and promptly he was invited to the camp after distinguishing himself as one of the ones for the future.
His Strength and Style?
He is a multi dimensional midfielder that can play as a creator in front of two midfielders in a 4-2-3-1 formation due to his ability to pick out the striker with the final pass.
He can also function as man behind the main striker, as a support striker.
His positioning, combined with his dribbling skills makes him a fit for the false nine role as he is almost a complete offensive player.
His ability to track back and work hard to ensure his team retrieves the ball when they lose makes him an uncommon creative player.
Weakness
What his game lacks presently or perceived weakness are not obvious but he needs to work on his speed as well as his shooting skills.
Like most number ten, he loves to play free kicks, this is an act he need to perfect.
For a player whose next birthday is 14, you can excuse him as he is undergoing his formative ages, he has what it takes to grind out the rough edges.
Good foundation
No doubt, Raheem has a great future ahead of him as a great foundation is being laid at the moment.
Raheem Salaudeen exposure to top competitions at this tender age, coupled with this experience of playing the NLO league, his dreams of playing as a player under coach Pep Guardiola is not far away.