CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY- OFF FINAL Terrier Wells is inspired by loss of pal Tumaini

WHEN Nhaki Wells walks out at Wembley tomorrow he will kiss the tattoo on his left wrist as a final reminder of how important it is to seize the day.

The Huddersfield striker (below) is living the dream – for both himself and the friend, who tragically lost his life in a motorbike accident at the age of 22 when they had the world at their feet.

The name Wells has inked on his arm is that of Tumaini Steede – a promising forward who shared his vision of a career of goals and glory when they were growing up together in Bermuda. “The loss of my best friend is a big motivation for me,” said Wells as he looked ahead to today’s Championship play-off final.

“When we were growing up we were seen as the two best young players in Bermuda – but as we pushed ourselves we also had a really strong friendship.

“Tumaini also had the potential to get this far in football but then he lost his life in a bike accident in 2012. From that moment I have always been proud to say that I am not just representing myself and my family I am also representing Tumaini and his family.

“I’ll think about him at Wembley, as I do before every game. I have his name tattooed on my wrist and he is also the angel on my shoulder.”

Wells’ journey towards the Premier League has not been smooth. In 2010, he arrived from Bermuda to combine studies in Leeds with playing for Eccleshill United in the Northern Counties East League, the 10th tier of English football.

After a spell with Carlisle United, Wells briefly returned to Bermuda before a trial with Bradford led to a contract.

The striker then scored 26 goals as the Bantams won the League Two play-off final and reached the final of the EFL Cup before losing to Swansea in 2013.

And a year later, Huddersfield broke their transfer record when they paid their West Yorkshire rivals £1.3million. Now Wells wants to follow in the footsteps of Jamie Vardy, the Leicester frontman who rose from the ranks of nonleague to win the Premier League and England honours.

“What’s happened to Jamie Vardy has really inspired me,”

said Wells, 26.

Bloomer

“He has shown that sometimes players from the lower leagues deserve the chance to show that they are good enough. To do what Jamie has done in such a short space of time is the ultimate fairytale. Jamie was a late bloomer. He started doing it in his late 20s and this game offers me the same opportunity. “Shaun Goater was one of my heroes when I was growing up in Bermuda – and back home there is a Bank Holiday called Shaun Goater Day. That just shows you what football means to the people back home. “They will all be tuning in to cheer for Huddersfield on Monday, even though it is a working day and it will be 11am. “Although Shaun played for Manchester City, I was always a Manchester United fan. To get to play at Old Trafford would make another dream come true for me.”