Hafiz Ibrahim: Ex-chelsea Triallist Rising In France

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, so they say. Or to localize it, when life shows you shege, you keep your head up and never give up. You keep grinding until you achieve a breakthrough.

Ex-Chelsea trialist Hafiz Umar Ibrahim 's story continues to thrill. Last week, he made his first professional appearance for the senior team of French club Stade Reims in the French Cup, a 3-1 win at AS Mutzig. He was a 62nd-minute replacement for Malian Niama Pape Sissoko.

He had been playing for Stade Reims B team since joining in August. His prolificity saw him score eight goals in seven matches in the fifth tier of the French football system.

French journalist Cyril Olive Berthet informed me a few days earlier that the club was thinking of promoting him to the senior team due to his proof of ability. But first, they would need to sell some players in January to create space for him in the squad.

It came to pass as he made his maiden appearance for the first team on December 22, playing 28 minutes in that French Cup victory.