Keep an eye on young footballer Usman Abdulmalik Peter.
Young Nigeria footballer, Usman Abdulmalik Peter, says he dreams of playing football as a professional for two reasons: he loves the game, and it will enable him to take care of his family.
Usman is currently playing with the Rhapsody football cub in Abuja, Nigeria, in the FCT state Challenge Cup. His quest to become a pro footballer began with a trial with Nigeria’s U17 team, but didn’t meet requirements and was dropped. Despite being disappointed, Usman told me that ” the trial was a good experience, and it gives me extra motivation to work harder. Every failure is a motivation for me to keep going.”
Usman in training
While Usman aspires to play with clubs in Europe or Asia, he acknowledges that a stint in the Nigeria Professional Football League could be a great start. “I played for the Katsina United Feeder team, but for family reasons, I had to leave the club, “the 18-year-old said.
“I know I have the skills, and I believe in Ronaldo’s story that you can achieve anything in life–if you work hard and persevere,” he continued. And the current virus pandemic isn’t stopping his progress. “I regularly run 12 times around the pitch at high speed, and I often run up a hill.”
But one thing Usman doesn’t have is a local manager to help with his development and line-up trial opportunities. “I’ve met a few sportsmen and coaches who seem interested in my playing, so we’ll see if anything develops,” he said.
