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Ibrahim Olutade’s patience was rewarded after waiting more than a year for his first Maidstone start.
Olutade took just seven minutes to score against Billericay on Saturday - a special moment for a player who decided to stay and fight for his place after being told he could leave in the summer.
His goal, deputising for the injured Scott Rendell, showed what he can do.
Olutade said: “It’s been a long wait for my first start. I just had to make sure I was ready to take my chance with both hands when it came along and I was so happy to get the goal.
“Since I’ve played as a striker I’ve watched people like Jermain Defoe and Thierry Henry, my idols growing up, and I’ve always known to get in the six-yard box just in case the keeper fumbles it.
“The majority of my goals have come in the six-yard box. You never know when the keeper might make a mistake and that’s what happened.”
Olutade spent most of last season back on loan at former club Leatherhead in the Isthmian Premier.
He was prolific there but chances continued to elude him back at the Gallagher and it looked as though he might be on his way out.
Hakan Hayrettin spoke to him about moving on but the forward, halfway through a two-year deal, was determined to stick around.
He scored after coming off the bench at Hendon in the FA Cup in October and finally got his first start in the 1-1 National South draw with Ricay.
He’s glad he stayed and so, too, is his manager.
“Hak was looking out for me in the summer when he said he wasn’t sure I’d get an opportunity,” said Olutade.
“I decided I was going to stay and wait for a chance and after Saturday’s game he called me and said he was glad I stayed in the end. I wasn’t expecting that.
"It was a good gesture from him - I was buzzing when he called.
“I always knew the first year would be difficult because it was my first experience of full-time football.
“I knew it would be a learning curve but this year I really wanted to show I can score goals for Maidstone.
“I’ve waited and waited for an opportunity and I’ll be forever grateful I managed to show what I can do.
“My friends are always asking me, ‘Do you think can score goals at this level?’. I’ve always felt I could, even last season when I wasn’t playing.
“My agent did say if I wanted to move on he could help me but I said no, I decided to stay here and prove to people I can score goals for Maidstone.
“I didn’t want to leave the club on a low.
“The fans have helped me, too, they’ve been great. I don’t think I’ve ever met a bunch of fans like them.
“Even though I didn’t really play and was out on loan in the first season, they were so supportive and were still messaging me. They helped me make my mind up to stay.”
Olutade knows he might find himself back on the bench when summer signing Rendell regains fitness.
But he’s learning all the time from the former Luton striker.
“There’s no better person to learn from than Scotty,” said Olutade.
“Honestly, even when I’m on the bench, I watch him and see what he does.
“When was injured on Saturday and couldn’t play, he and George Porter took me under their wing and supported me.
“Before the game, and at half-time, Scott was telling me what I should be doing. We speak a lot and it’s great to learn from someone of his experience in the game.”
