Banned, Abandoned, and Back: Paul Pogba’s Inspiring Return to Football

BY JOHN MSAFIRI. There are days life treats you like Pogba in Juventus. One minute, you’re the golden child with flashy hair, Mugithi energy, and midfield control smoother than Nigerian jollof rice, and the next minute, bam! They ban you. They drop you. They cancel you like expired milk on a hot Nandi afternoon. When FIFA slapped Paul Pogba with an 18-month ban for doping he never voluntarily did , it was like a death sentence for a footballer whose game thrives on rhythm, confidence, and public love. Juventus washed their hands faster than Pontius Pilate, terminated his contract, and moved on like he never coloured their midfield with flair and brilliance. His friends in football? Silence. Those group chats dried up like January pockets. Even the loyal fans tweeting “Pogback” went quiet. Imagine the loneliness. Imagine waking up every day to an empty training ground, your name trending only for ridicule, and your bank account questioning your life choices. But he didn’t ...