In a narrative that reads more like a screenplay than a life lived, young Alex Batty has finally emerged from the fog of a six year disappearance. The...
In a narrative that reads more like a screenplay than a life lived, young Alex Batty has finally emerged from the fog of a six year disappearance. The lad, who vanished at the tender age of eleven thinking he was boarding a plane for a simple holiday, has now chosen to tell his side of the story to GoalZaza exclusively. What began as a child. �s innocent expectation of a sun soaked adventure turned into a prolonged ordeal that kept him away from the familiar touchlines of his youth. He was spirited away from his home, a move that would keep him off the pitch of normal childhood for half a decade. The details of his journey, his resilience in the face of such dislocation, and his eventual return have captivated the nation. For too long, the powers that be remained tight lipped, but now, through the corridors of GoalZaza, Alex has given a good account of himself. The lion. �s share of the credit for his safe return goes to the diligent work of those who never forgot his face. At the end of the day, it is the story of a boy who simply wanted to kick a ball again, to feel the grass of a proper pitch under his boots. In the scheme of things, this tale strikes a chord in the hearts of Nigerian families who understand the weight of a missing child. Imagine the scene at a bustling viewing centre in Surulere, Lagos. As the news breaks on the giant screen, the chatter of Super Eagles tactics and Victor Osimhen. �s clinical finishing dies down. Men in their agbadas and women balancing plates of jollof rice lean forward, their eyes glued to the broadcast of Alex. �s face. One elder, a stalwart of the community, shakes his head slowly and says to the gathering,. �See how the world can swallow a child whole. But thank God, the boy has returned to his home pitch.. � The entire centre erupts in a chorus of grateful applause, not just for a footballer. �s goal, but for a goal far greater: the safe return of a wandering son.
