Behind a dimly lit bar in Abuja, Adejumo Smat, otherwise known as Casemiro, rubbed his teary eyes and drank his cold plastic water. He had been sitting there for the past three hours pondering what his next move would be. He was just dropped from the Flying Eagles squad preparing for the African Youth Championship in Egypt. It was a moment when he felt his world come crashing down before his eyes. It was a moment he would live to remember even if he lives to be 120 years old.

“Where do I go from here, lord?” asked the El Dabaa FC of Egypt defensive midfielder, whose role helped his modest side churn out good results last season. ” This is tough.”

“I gave it my best shot during training, and I felt that would be enough to convince the manager, but I still cannot believe I was dropped from the team.

Casemiro is a casualty of Flying Eagles’ water-tight selection; the politics and intrigues that come to play during screening are one of the toughest hurdles for every player, as his dream of wearing Nigeria’s green and white colours went up in flames. Unknown to him, talent is not always enough when it comes to playing for Nigeria at all levels. But unknown to the coach Aliyu Zubairu-led coaching crew, a potential Wilfred Ndidi heir apparent has just been overlooked. And to many who watched Casemiro shone like a million-star in training, it was like throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT AND BLINDING
Smat’s total of 71 tackles was the highest by anyone in the Egyptian third-tier league last season, and he dug deep into his technical books of tricks and managed that quite well despite playing 37 games with a team, in El Dabaa FC, which is known for its possession football. Indeed, that number speaks volumes about his remarkable ball-winning prowess.

His invitation to the Nigeria U-20 side was seen as a major breakthrough for this box-to-box defensive midfielder. Flying Eagles had conquered the West African Zone, but cynics felt that Flying Eagles’ midfield was too easy to play through, and the consensus was that Smat who is dubbed as the man with seven lungs could bring qualities they lacked. Only coach Zubairu could explain why the youngster was dropped from the final lists.

Without mincing words, his defensive attributes has made a good impression on his career so far, and his ability to steal the ball from opponents earned him the name Casemiro. His comparison with the Brazilian, Manchester United midfield supremo, is a mouth-watering accolade for his agent, club and fans alike. He worked tirelessly off the ball and showed his quality on it

But some factor positions him as heir apparent to Super Eagles Leicester City midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi; apart from being and prolific tackler, Smat reads the game well and his ability to anticipate danger and break down free flowing passes without picking cards often, makes him the darling of the fans in Egypt. That’s not all; Smat also makes his presence felt when his team is on the offensive, a quality that earned him seven goals in 37 matches. That is not a bad statistic for a defensive midfielder.

While his sole responsibility is to stop the opposing team, Smat’s dribbling ability is another enticing aspect of his game. He is capable of skipping past opponents with ease, right in his half, to push the ball up the pitch

WANTED BY MANY
The young and hardworking is not without suitors despite plying his trade in the lower division of Egyptian football. Top on the lists of his many suitors is French Ligue 1 side Metz. The French top side see Smat is still work in progress, they could project what the future holds for this youngster after watching him play.

Serbian top-tier side FK TSC Backa Topola is also willing to see him play and is working round the clock to arrange a short trial for the player. Whichever club Smat Adejumo end up with, they can be rest assured of a tight security at the center of the pitch while keeps the key

Smat will bring greater physical intensity to any team he ends up with. He may not be as adventurous as the real Casemiro in terms of his passing skills, but he is certainly more efficient, barring any injury. There is also more for improvement

He may have put the disappointment of missing out on Flying Eagles’ CAF U-20 Championship campaign behind him, it is just the beginning of a great thing for the player who has come to come to terms with the popular beliefs that good things do come to those who wait.

Talking about waiting, Smat is determined to grab his chance with the national team, come hell or high water, and Nigerians can’t wait to see him transformed into a finished product. Only time will tell.