Taiwo Awoniyi, a star for the Super Eagles, has shared his background and explained why he chose to pursue a career in football over pursuing a degree in college.
The Nigerian striker, who presently represents Premier League team Nottingham Forest, discusses how he utilized funds intended for him to take an exam to follow his ambition of playing football.
The 26-year-old joined Liverpool after Nigeria’s success at the 2013 U-17 FIFA World Cup United Arab Emirates’ successful under- team won the , but he was unable to make the first team because of work permit complications.
The former Liverpool striker discusses his decision to choose football over his father’s desire for him to pursue a college education in an interview with Osasu Obayiuwana for the Guardian.
Awoniyi stated that his father raised money for his admission examinations, but that he eventually decided not to sign up because of certain circumstances.
“My dad actually borrowed the money to pay for my exams,” The Nigerian international said during the interview.
“I went to the person that was supposed to help register me for the exam in the morning, and he was not around. I went there again in the evening, and they told me he still wasn’t around.”
The striker convinced his father that he intends pursue his passion for sport. Later, he registered with the Imperial Soccer Academy with the money intended for his entrance exams.
“It was on my way back from that trip that I got a call from the Imperial Soccer Academy [in Nigeria’s Ogun State] that they wanted me,” he added.
“I went back to my dad and said: ‘I do want to keep on going to school. But my passion is football, so let me use this money to get myself down to the academy.’ “