Rising from the slums
Candy Idoko is the eldest of ten children – he has nine younger siblings. The majority of the people living in the slums of his hometown Kaduna are poor and unemployed, as is his father. There’s no money for clothes or school. The only meal he might get is a bowl of rice every evening before he goes to sleep.
He started hustling for money to eat at a very young age. At the age of 13, he joined a friend to Kaduna Club and found out that he could earn 20 cents a day as a ball boy! While waiting for the moment to start working as a ball boy for the rich club members in the afternoon, he spent his time hitting an old tennis ball with a broken racket, being barefooted.
Candy with the famous Dutch singer Do in May 2009.
But then Candy’s desperate situation changed course in a fairy-like way, as soon as he came in contact with CO Foundation, situated in Venlo, The Netherlands. A Junior Tournament was held at the Kaduna Club, organized by CO Foundation. Incredibly, the first prize would be 25 euro and a round-trip ticket to Amsterdam, kindly made available by KLM. Candy, being one of the younger participants, played his matches very well, became finalist, and, against all odds, won the tournament. He was offered the opportunity to visit the Netherlands.
Candy arrived at Schiphol Airport on October 9 2000 and he took it all in. He visited a couple of tennis academies and took his new tennis shoes and racket with him. The Dutch coaches immediately recognized his natural talent for the game. Without any formal training background, he could easily hold his own with the Dutch young professionals.
Back in Nigeria, Candy evolved into a brilliant tennis player and was given the opportunity to develop internationally as well. From that moment, everything happened in a rush.
Candy reached the 145th position in the Junior World Rankings within two and an half years. The International Tennis Federation offered sponsorships, enabling him to participate in tournaments in several countries. The barefooted ball boy turned into a professional that is willing to give everything for a future tennis career.
Candy started training with Henk van Hulst, Valkenswaard, The Netherlands, in 2003. He’s given the opportunity to play tennis with the big names among Dutch professionals. KLM keeps supporting him with free tickets to travel to other countries and participate in tournaments. Candy became the number 1 tennis player of Nigeria, reached the 900st position in the ATP World ranking and became member of the Nigerian Davis Cup team. He played Eredivisie, the highest level of the Dutch tennis league. Those developments indicate a a glorious international tennis career ahead.
Candy during a training match in Nigeria sometime last year
Candy uses the money he has earned by playing tennis to buy food for his parents and brothers and sisters. In addition, he rents a stone-built house with running water just outside the slums for his family to live in. Furthermore, he is able to pay part of the costs for the CO Foundation’s projects.
Candy serves as a model for the Kaduna youth. By looking at Candy, they learn that there is a way out of poverty by working hard. The further Candy’s star reaches, the more it ignites the hope of Nigerian youth.