Rise to stardom: ‘I was cleaning gutters for 20 Naira’ – Victor Osimhen reveals

Victorious 22-year-old Super Eagles and Napoli star, Victor Osimhen has revealed his ‘grass to grace’ story, revealing how he performed menial jobs in order to survive before his journey into professional football.

Speaking via his national teammate and captain, William Troost-Ekong’s vlog on his journey to stardom, the striker said: “It all started like a dream, a boyhood dream from the slum and I feel like I have achieved this feat, it’s one of my biggest achievements in life.”

“Most people are familiar when I say this because they have come through even worse [situations] than mine and where I grew up, nothing is promised there because whatever you want to get, you have to work so hard for it,” he added.

“I remember when I was growing up, I was cleaning the gutters for 20 Naira, for my landlord and did some cleaning jobs for my neighbours close to my house, fetch water for 80 Naira, I think.

“I found pleasure in doing these things because I believed when I worked so hard to get this money, it was important for me. I had consciousness on how to spend this money and help my family.

“While growing up, my brother was selling newspapers, my sister oranges. I was in the traffic with water and I’d had to chase cars, give them water to get the money. I feel like these struggles helped me in life.

“I am grateful for where I am today because of what I’d been through, it shaped me into the man I am. I am really grateful to God for that.”

Published by Monsurah Olatunji

Monsurah Olatunji is a Nigeria based Sport enthusiast with a bias for women's football. An advocate of women's football development in Africa and girl-child empowerment.

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