As the game nears its end, all eyes fixate on Samuel Jeremiah, 23 the speedy winger renowned for his lightning pace. Leading the Baiteze squad, the pressure mounts. With a focused gaze, Jeremiah steps onto the field, exuding the confidence of a seasoned pro. His anticipation and resolve are evident, as he mentally gears up for the challenge ahead.
A big game player can be defined in many different ways, it isn’t just about scoring the spectacular. Nicholas Chan, 23 performance analyst believes a big game player is often the linchpin of the team’s attack he said: ‘’a player like Jeremiah who is an explosive winger with an incredible amount of technical ability is a threat and also a profile like his, can also be considered a big game player.’’
His club Baiteze Squad has been blistering through the rounds of the FA National Cup and has made history by making their first-ever final in the competition. Jeremiah emerged as a standout talent as he proved to be a decisive player he is also a strong believer in superstitious that also ties with his family ties.
He said: ‘’My grandad was always very strong on that side of the game the week leading up to the final I played very well in the warm-up game and also in training so I didn’t wash my boots or change them I went straight to the final with the same boot and for that, some people might see it as a small thing but for me, it is a big thing.
‘’To be fair playing in a crowd the most important thing for me is to settle the nerves so if I am playing in the boots that I am most comfortable with then the nerves go away all of a sudden.’’
The excitement and nerves surrounding the final, Jeremiah carried with him a cherished memento: a picture of his grandad. This simple gesture served as his good luck charm, imbued with memories and blessings that provided a source of strength and motivation. Mr Jeremiah said: ‘’My grandad’s presence, albeit in spirit, offered a sense of reassurance and guidance, the picture I have of her during the game reminded me that she is always here.
‘’It is common where I’m from especially with a lot of the kids I grew up with we all had a very close connection with our families, I remember coming back home, my passion for football came from him.’’
Growing up on the estates of Wanstead Flats, Jeremiah faced challenges of his own with a ‘No Playing ball’ sign dotted across the flats, he and his friends had to get creative, often resorting to improvised pitches.
Despite the lack of designated playing areas, Jeremiah and his friends would gather to play wherever they could, even if it meant dodging disapproving glances from residents peering through their windows. Jeremiah would imagine himself playing at iconic stadiums like his boyhood team Manchester United, channelling the energy of a real match with every goal celebration.
The games he would play became more than just a pastime for Jeremiah: they were his training ground growing up where he would practice his skills and take them onto the pitch and one day take that experience onto the real stage.
These experiences from the playground played on Jeremiah’s head the week before the final, these scenarios permanently remained forever in his footballing journey.
On the other side, Chan thoroughly explains that the moment a cup final has been announced their job begins from there. He said: ‘’We would often begin by collecting all the data that is available and work out what kind of data is missing and how we would collect it then the other stuff would then come in with like match analysis, tactics.
‘’Key threats, current players, the pitch we are playing at even down to the weather conditions, all of these key factors can influence performances. This process will take 2-4 weeks depending on the opponent, for instance at a much lower level not so much especially if you’re one of the strongest sides in your league, at that point it is all about just imposing yourself.’
“Understanding the team’s style of play is also an important element that Mr Chan emphasised. In the build-up to the FA National Cup final, there is a culmination of fine margins, where one moment of brilliance or lapse of judgment can tilt the scales.”
“Especially if you’re a team that plays on the counter, this is something that I would look at to exploit. As part of my job I would liaise with the manager and discuss how we can use his profile to our advantage, especially on a pitch like Millwall where they play the final very wide pitch with a lot of grass to play. Overall, in a game of 90 minutes, we would look at the balance of our whole team and the individual flair. With how much tactical cohesion it is also very important to allow individual players as much freedom as possible.’’
It is now moments before the players of the Baiteze squad enter the ‘The Den’, the sun dips just below the horizon creating a long shadow across the stadium. Jeremiah standing in the tunnel, he said: ‘’ I remember my heart pounding in rhythm it was a surreal moment at first all I could hear was the echoes of the footsteps from the boots.
‘’I was the last to leave the changing rooms and I was the last to line-up but part of me liked that it gave me an adrenaline boost, there was like a slight delay in leaving the tunnel, and my face remained stern.’’
Jeremiah could see the nerves of the opposition players; it was a familiar sight one that reminded him of the days of playing football at Wanstead flats. Those days of kicking the ball around tough concrete had prepared him for this moment and within a matter of seconds the players were walking down the tunnel.
Jeremiah stepped onto the pitch last and remembered the familiar sensation of his boots meeting the grass sending a surge of adrenaline through his veins. It was a moment that he played through his head countless times.
With the Final being the Baiteze squad’s first-ever, with each step that he took onto the pitch, he could feel the weight of expectation, both his own and that of his teammates pressing down on him.
But as every moment went by Jeremiah said: ‘’I felt a sense of calmness washing over me from the estates to playing at Millwall’s ground each kick I took was a testament to my resilience and the journey that I have taken to get here.’’
As he took the position of the right flank he could hear the words of encouragement from his coach. In that moment Jeremiah felt a sense of belonging a feeling that he was exactly where he was meant to be.
As the referee’s whilst pierced the air, signalling the start of the match, Jeremiah’s mind raced with memories of the years he spent playing football. He said: ‘’I could almost feel the rough concrete beneath my feet, for those short moments in my head I could hear the distant echoes of cheers of when I used to see people watch me through the windows of the flats, but now I was here on the pitch.’’
The time on the clock is two minutes and 48 seconds, the moment has come the ball found its way onto the right side of the pitch, Jeremiah knew exactly what to do with a burst of speed and a flick of his boot, he whipped in a cross into the box setting the stage for the opening goal.
He said: ‘’ I remember the dugout erupting I couldn’t help but run to the dugout and jump on my manager I was unsure where the guy that scored went but I remember bodies piling on top of me that sensation I felt I don’t think I would ever have that feeling again.’’
That goal went on to be the decisive goal, as the opposition pushed for the equaliser Baiteze squad doubled their lead and killed the game off.
The final whistle blows, and the dugout erupts in celebration running onto the pitch the coach runs to Jeremiah giving him the biggest hug it was a moment for the ages. As the captain lifted the trophy, Jeremiah reached out to touch a surge of emotion washed over him Jeremiah knew that he and his teammates made history at that very moment.
Samuel Jeremiah plays for Baiteze FC.
He played a crucial role in the
FA National Cup with the opening
assist for the first goal leading Baiteze
to a 2-0 win against Highgate Albion
Nicholas Chan is a FIFA analyst who analyses
data to aid team performance
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