Fatau Dauda's mum feeling proud of her son

THE mother of the country’s current safe pair of hands in the ongoing African Cup of Nations, Fatau Dauda says she is dealing with severe bodily pains due to constant hugs and holding from friends and loved ones and even unknown faces for what is being described as a fantastic performance by her son.
She was, however, quick to add that it is not a bother at all but a privilege "as it is a clear indication that his works are being appreciated and for the family a confirmation that he is living his life-long dream of being a national goalkeeper."
Speaking with the Times Sports at her residence in Madina, a suburb of Accra, where Fatau has spent most of his life, Zeenatu Ibrahim, whose third son won the 'Man of the Match' in the Ghana Cape Verde match due to a spectacular performance which saved the nation from many potential goals, said she could only thank Allah (God) for the life of her son.
She admitted that she had never watched any of the matches because she does not have the stamina for the nature of the game but relies on feedback from his siblings and colleague traders which so far has been encouraging.
Recalling how at age six little Fatau requested that she bought him a football because he wanted to be a goalkeeper in future, the cereal trader at the Madina Market said she has not regretted the decision to allow her son to pursue his dream of goalkeeping and specifically to represent the country.
Madam Zeenatu disclosed that when Fatau stated his intention to be the person to safeguard the country’s goalpost someday she and his late father Yakubu Dauda only laughed about it.
However, as he repeated it consistently they realised that he was serious and from then his dad never handed anything to him from hand to hand but always threw it to test his talent and zeal.
She admitted that Fatau has made his family, friends and his neighbourhood proud and no wonder if anyone is told she is the mother of the new hero in town "the person doesn’t hesitate to give me a hug as a form of appreciation."
Madam Zeenatu revealed that her son calls her often and anytime he does she never forgets to tell him to eschew complacency and pride "considering the fact that it took grace of Allah to get him there and also that he has a long way to go."
She said she also tried to remind him as often as possible that he was in a position where the emotions and lives of millions of the citizenry and fans are virtually in his hands "and I tell him to do his human best to bring glory to the country."
With misty eyes she said her son has gone through a lot of disappointments to get to where he is now and having the whole world looking at him now is nothing but a miracle and not because he is better than the rest.
She, therefore, prays that his performance attracts the foreign clubs to apply for his services.
Madam Zeenatu said that she had high hopes that the number of times she had to wash so many clothes from his training activities from childhood till now - a development which took a toll on the family’s budget as they had to buy more soap - will not be in vain but rather pay off.
She expressed appreciation to the Coach, Kwesi Appiah and all persons who believed in her son to give him a chance to wear such big shoes and expressed optimism that with the spirit of brotherliness in the entire playing body backed by fervent prayers the boys would come home with the trophy.
For his junior brother, Saliu Dauda , this is one of the rare moments to be proud of his senior brother who is putting his heart in the game as very typical of him in all his endeavours.
He said his performance has been able to get the whole Madina, the land of his birth, talking and appreciating him.
“For me, my brother is now a hero,” he added.

THE mother of the country’s current safe pair of hands in the ongoing African Cup of Nations, Fatau Dauda says she is dealing with severe bodily pains due to constant hugs and holding from friends and loved ones and even unknown faces for what is being described as a fantastic performance by her son.
She was, however, quick to add that it is not a bother at all but a privilege "as it is a clear indication that his works are being appreciated and for the family a confirmation that he is living his life-long dream of being a national goalkeeper."
Speaking with the Times Sports at her residence in Madina, a suburb of Accra, where Fatau has spent most of his life, Zeenatu Ibrahim, whose third son won the 'Man of the Match' in the Ghana Cape Verde match due to a spectacular performance which saved the nation from many potential goals, said she could only thank Allah (God) for the life of her son.
She admitted that she had never watched any of the matches because she does not have the stamina for the nature of the game but relies on feedback from his siblings and colleague traders which so far has been encouraging.
Recalling how at age six little Fatau requested that she bought him a football because he wanted to be a goalkeeper in future, the cereal trader at the Madina Market said she has not regretted the decision to allow her son to pursue his dream of goalkeeping and specifically to represent the country.
Madam Zeenatu disclosed that when Fatau stated his intention to be the person to safeguard the country’s goalpost someday she and his late father Yakubu Dauda only laughed about it.
However, as he repeated it consistently they realised that he was serious and from then his dad never handed anything to him from hand to hand but always threw it to test his talent and zeal.
She admitted that Fatau has made his family, friends and his neighbourhood proud and no wonder if anyone is told she is the mother of the new hero in town "the person doesn’t hesitate to give me a hug as a form of appreciation."
Madam Zeenatu revealed that her son calls her often and anytime he does she never forgets to tell him to eschew complacency and pride "considering the fact that it took grace of Allah to get him there and also that he has a long way to go."
She said she also tried to remind him as often as possible that he was in a position where the emotions and lives of millions of the citizenry and fans are virtually in his hands "and I tell him to do his human best to bring glory to the country."
With misty eyes she said her son has gone through a lot of disappointments to get to where he is now and having the whole world looking at him now is nothing but a miracle and not because he is better than the rest.
She, therefore, prays that his performance attracts the foreign clubs to apply for his services.
Madam Zeenatu said that she had high hopes that the number of times she had to wash so many clothes from his training activities from childhood till now - a development which took a toll on the family’s budget as they had to buy more soap - will not be in vain but rather pay off.
She expressed appreciation to the Coach, Kwesi Appiah and all persons who believed in her son to give him a chance to wear such big shoes and expressed optimism that with the spirit of brotherliness in the entire playing body backed by fervent prayers the boys would come home with the trophy.
For his junior brother, Saliu Dauda , this is one of the rare moments to be proud of his senior brother who is putting his heart in the game as very typical of him in all his endeavours.
He said his performance has been able to get the whole Madina, the land of his birth, talking and appreciating him.
“For me, my brother is now a hero,” he added.