Dreams Can Grow Anywhere
Arogundade & Chegwe, Nigeria
Bundesliga and Goal Click have collaborated to create a storytelling series to share the untold stories of children participating in the Bundesliga Common Ground project. This series showcases the transformative impact of the Common Ground pitches within urban communities in Germany, Brazil, Nigeria and Indonesia.
Arogundade and Chegwe are young Nigerians whose lives have been deeply shaped by football. Through their journeys with the Bundesliga Common Ground project, they have developed their skills on the pitch and discovered their guiding values of Respect and Fair Play.
My name is Arogundade Olamilekan, and I am 17 years old. I come from Ogun State, Nigeria, which is a place full of noise, laughter, hustle, and the sound of footballs bouncing off sandy ground.
When I was four, I began playing football barefoot in the family compound, chasing an old football with my uncle. We had no proper pitch, just dust with tyres for goalposts. However, somehow that tiny space felt like a stadium. Every pass and every goal lit a fire in me that still burns today.
Football has become more than a sport to me. It is my rhythm, my release, and my teacher. It brings joy on hard days and teaches me to lead, listen, and learn. Football is my freedom and where I feel most alive.
Lead, Listen, And Learn
In my community, football brings together children, elders, students, workers - everyone. Whether on sandy grounds or makeshift fields, the game unites us. It lifts our spirits after tough days at school or home and keeps us going.
Opportunities are growing. The Bundesliga Common Ground project gave us hope and a chance to be trained, seen, and inspired. It shows us that dreams can grow anywhere.
Every player here knows the struggles. Fair play can disappear when players deny fouls, and arguments interrupt the joy of the game. We have an issue with poor pitches that are bumpy, unsafe, or simply not available.
Our local pitches used to be in terrible shape because they were bumpy, dusty, and often without markings or goalposts. When the Common Ground pitch arrived, it felt like a miracle. It is a modern, well-maintained space that has become a hub for football and the wider community.
Now, kids, youth teams, and adults all use it. Local coaches run training sessions, and we even host small tournaments. Most importantly, it gives young people a safe, structured place to be by reducing idleness and bringing the community closer together.
Players And People
This project is not just about football - it is life changing. I joined because I saw hope for a better future and a chance to grow. I have sharpened my skills while becoming part of something bigger.
Football became a platform where I could express myself, build confidence, and learn discipline. I saw hope for a better life. Maybe I could become a pro, but even beyond that, I could become someone with purpose and drive.
I have enjoyed the training sessions the most. Every session feels like a new chapter full of challenges, teamwork, laughter, and learning. I leave the pitch not just tired, but fulfilled. Week after week, I become stronger, smarter, more focused.
Training was intense but exciting. We usually started with a warm-up, which included jogging, stretches, and quick drills. Then we would move into technical work to practice passing, shooting, and control. Sometimes we did tactical drills, like positioning or defending as a team.
The coaches were supportive but pushed us to improve. One thing I loved was that we were treated like professionals. Even if it was just a community session, they made us believe we mattered. It was more than just training because it felt like we were building something bigger.
For me, participating in the Bundesliga Common Ground training sessions has been a mirror and a window, showing me who I am and who I can become. I have gained confidence, improved my positioning, and become a better communicator.
This project gives young people something meaningful to do. It keeps us off the streets and helps us grow. The project is not just building players - it is building people.
The values that guide me most are Respect, Fair Play, and Responsibility. I have learned that how I act, win or lose, matters.
Responsibility means showing up, being on time, and supporting others. I lead not just with my feet, but with my actions.
These values go beyond the pitch as they shape how I live every day. I dream of designing beautiful spaces as a creative interior decorator. Football will always be part of me because the lessons, friendships, drive are all written into my story.
For the next generation, I hope they find spaces like Common Ground to learn, grow, and dream bigger than the world tells them they can. I want them to know that greatness can rise from anywhere - even from a dusty yard with tyre goalposts.
A Chance To Grow
My name is Chegwe Ireoluwa Tomiwa, and I am 14 years old, from Delta State in Nigeria. My football journey began at age six, playing with my cousins and using tyres as goalposts. I was not playing much at first, and just started out with training.
From there, my football journey grew, and it has been wonderful. I continued to improve my skills, especially after training with the coaches through the Bundesliga Common Ground project.
As I learn new skills through this programme, I continue to grow into a better player and person.
Football also plays a big role in my community because it is our go-to entertainment when we are bored. It also opens doors, giving young players like me a chance to grow.
Common Ground
The Bundesliga Common Ground has been great because I learn new strategies every week to use on the pitch. I joined because it was a big opportunity to play football, and I have really enjoyed the training sessions.
The project has helped me discover my football talent and taught kids in my community more about the game.
One challenge I face while playing football is when players commit fouls and deny them, because it causes arguments. Another is a lack of proper fields, so the refurbished pitch through the Bundesliga Common Ground project has been really special.
The most important values that I have learned through the project are Respect and Fair Play. They have taught me to treat others how I want to be treated in football and in everyday life. These values will also help me off the pitch as I hope to achieve my dream of becoming an interior designer.
