With the second half of the 2016/17 Nigeria Professional Football League season in full flight, players and officials are on a mission for points as they jostle for the rewards that come with doing well in the league.
For a lot of teams, the league title and continental places are the major attraction while others are trying hard to claw their way out of the relegation zone.
One player who is glad to be just playing football again is Reuben Ogbonnaya. The former El-Kanemi defender who signed for Niger Tornadoes before the second stanza commenced is glad to be back and strutting his stuff on the pitch.
For us to get the full picture of Ogbonnaya's ebullience, we have to retrace our steps to March 2015.
Then with Kano Pillars, Ogbonnaya and his teammates were on their way to honour a league game against Heartland of Owerri when their team boss came under attack by armed bandits.
Some players were shot and injured with Ogbonnaya having pellets from a bullet lodged in his head. He trudged on with the shrapnel still in his head playing a couple of games for ‘Sai Masugida’ but had to undergo an operation eventually.
The pellets were successfully removed from his skull and he made a return to the game a month after his operation but that was just the beginning of his travails.
A knee injury sustained at Sunshine Stars meant he missed a chunk of the season but made a return against Akwa United at the ‘Nest of Champions.’ His comeback lasted barely 10 minutes as he suffered a recurrence of the same injury.
Recovery was once again on the cards and the centre-back, known for his strong Christian convictions, was able to make it back into the field playing a few games before a different injury against Abia Warriors meant his season was over.
“Those were trying times I must admit. I have never had to contend with injuries and the sort of things I went through since I started playing football,” Ogbonnaya told npfl.ng.
“As a Christian, I believe God has a plan for me that is why these things have happened to me. Instead of being weighed down, I’ve decided to take it as a challenge and show people that I’m still the same person. Nothing has changed."
Unfortunately, Kano Pillars didn’t have as much faith in him and they eventually released him at the end of the season which meant Ogbonnaya had to find a new home.
That didn’t materialise for some time but the defender used that period to keep fit and also learn more about the Bible, a passion he intends to chase at the end of his career.
“I don’t blame Pillars at all. In fact, they are a good club, I had a good relationship with them. These things happen in the professional game,” the centre-back revealed.
“They were patient with me and I believe it was time to let me go. I had a good time there but like I said everything happens for a reason.
“I had a few offers here and there during my lay-off but I didn’t think it was the right time to take such a step. I always pray before I make a move and I wasn’t convinced.
“It wasn’t like I wasn't doing anything then. I was training and playing local competitions to keep fit and I was also studying the Bible.
“I intend to be an evangelist when I’m done with football eventually. I want people to get to know the word of God. Apart from football, that is my other passion.”
Now with Niger Tornadoes, the soft-spoken defender is happy playing for coach Abubakar Bala and relishes the chance to play for someone he says he respects a lot.
Ogbonnaya, despite interests from NPFL teams now suits up for the Minna-based side who sit seventh on the log, a move he said was motivated by his desire to repay Bala’s faith in him.
“I had a few offers here and here but that from Tornadoes was more concise and clear. Bala is someone I have admired for a long time so I could not pass up the chance to play under him.
“I love the spirit here in Tornadoes as the boys are like a family and eager to make an impression. I hope my experience can help the team in our quest for the league title.
"I'm glad to be back to the field of play, nothing beats being on the pitch for a footballer. We live for those moments. Hopefully, things will go as planned and we achieve our aims,” he added.
Ogbonnaya is in line for selection for Niger Tornadoes face ABS FC in Ilorin this Sunday.