Teenage footballer, John Olanrewaju Aborisade, has described the smooth ride of the Super Eagles’ qualification for the 2018 World Cup as a feat that keeps inspiring Nigerian-born players abroad.
The 15-year-old attacking midfielder in an online interview with Tribunesport stated that the exploits of Nigerian players in the English Premier League also serve as inspiration.
“Some of us who are young and playing football in the United Kingdom are happy watching Nigerian players do well during the qualifying series of the 2018 World Cup. Every young Nigerian player in UK today looks up to the fame of former Eagles stars like Kanu Nwankwo and Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha and aspire to be like them.
“Today, Okocha is still adored as one of the best Nigerian footballers to have played in UK. Some of us who are young players listen with admiration as residents tell us about his {Okocha} heroic moments with Bolton Wanderers in the EPL. I look forward to sharing a moment of honour with him {Okocha} anytime I have the privilege to do so,” said Aborisade who plays semi-professional football with Holland and Blair in Kent.
The Oyo State-born Aborisade, stated that the superb performance of Nigeria at the just-ended Russia 2018 qualifying series would continue to inspire budding players to greater heights.
“I watched all the World Cup qualification matches of the Super Eagles. To me, defeating Cameroon is the most special moment of the group games.
“In fact, I also dream of putting on the green and white jersey one day, and possibly right from age-grade teams. The truth of the matter is that so many of us {Nigerian-born players} here in UK would always do everything humanly possible to play for Nigeria,” said Aborisade, a year 11 student of Coopers and Coborn School, Upminster UK.
