They Don't Teach This by Eniola Aluko

Author:Eniola Aluko
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781473564480
Publisher: Random House

The next moments were unforgettable. Walking up Wembley’s iconic steps to the Royal Box, I finally understood the real genius of God’s plan. Losing then had been necessary in order to win now. Without that loss, we wouldn’t have found the strength to win here, to be the first women to climb these steps and raise this trophy in this place. God had known I would grow through defeat and He had wanted me to come back to the game humbled. He had wanted me to strive harder until I was truly deserving. At the top of the steps, as we lifted the shining silver, I praised His wisdom.

Our football rose to another level after that win. I found such joy in playing again, freed by the knowledge that we deserved to be champions. We won our last five league games and claimed the title. In our final game of the season, against Sunderland, we reversed our earlier defeat to beat them 4–0. Raising the league trophy at last, I was full of love for the players, coach, staff and the fans. We had been on a journey from the very bottom, we had been crushed once and made it to the top once again, wiser, older, better and stronger. Finally, we had something to show for it all. Now we had the double.

That season had taught me some of the most valuable lessons of my career. Never again would I walk on to a pitch taking a win for granted, and never again would I question God’s wisdom. I saw now that there was a time for defeats, and a time for victories, and that both had a place in His plan.

Defeats were not only failures; they were invitations to grow. Football, like life, is a story of extremes, of highs and lows, defeats and victories. Of all the ups and downs of my career, it is that loss, and that win, that stand above all others. Those games taught me the biggest lesson of all: to trust in the hand of God.

For me, it is God’s hand that dictates when I win, and when I lose. For those without God in their lives, it is still vital to know there is always a lesson behind every failure. If one thing is sure, there will be setbacks in life, and every one of them happens for a reason that might lead to success just around the corner. Looking back over the failures, and the successes, I understand now that one can’t come without the other.

Knowing that helps me to no longer shy away from failure and remind myself that I may have to fail more than once to reach greatness. Remember that, and however hard it is, keep relentlessly putting yourself back in the position to fail. Take it from me. Only then can you win.

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