As a child I had to go to bed without food, reveals Awoniyi
Reading Time: 3min | Fri. 18.08.23. | 17:19
The Nigerian striker opens up about the struggle during his early days ahead of tonight's EPL clash against Sheffield United (9.45 PM)
He is the first player from Kwara state, in the west of Nigeria, to make it to the Premier League. He went a long way to reach such heights, and it's anything but a pure coincidence Taiwo Awoniyi has made it all the way.
The struggle he went through during his childhood made him a true fighter, capable of overcoming all difficulties on the way. After netting against at Emirates in the opening game of the new EPL season, Awoniyi is ready for the next challenge on Friday night against Sheffield United.
Ahead of this tie, the 26-year-old talked to Mailsport and revealed many details from his early days...
"There is pressure in football, but for many African players, growing up is difficult. In some cases, they have seen the other side of life and that helps.
"I've been in a situation as a child where I had to go to bed without food. Where I had to walk an hour just to get to a training ground.
"My dad is a retired officer, and his earnings were not enough to cater for the whole family, so growing up was really tough. Sometimes you are the one who has to find means for yourself," explains Awoniyi, who joined Liverpool aged 18 but was not granted a work permit, so he had seven different loan spells in three countries before he signed for Forest last year, for £17.5 million, from Union Berlin.
"Of course, your mum and dad want to do everything they can for you but growing up, you see limits of what they can do. The best you can do is try to help as much as you can.
"This is what really inspired me to be who I am today. It gave me the courage to think if I can go through all this, I can go through anything, even the worst parts of life.
Fri 21.45: (2.05) Nott.Forest (3.45) Sheffield Utd (4.10)
"Everyone wants to have a better life and I have adapted to many situations. Wherever I needed to go, I went. If it was Germany, Holland or the UK, that's fine.
"I've gone through different stages of difficulty and it helps me on the pitch. I've had to work things out for myself. It's helpful to have been through those experiences," concludes Awoniyi.
PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 2
Friday
21.45: (2.05) Nott.Forest (3.45) Sheffield Utd (4.10)
Saturday
17.00: (2.85) Fulham (3.35) Brentford (2.65)
17.00: (1.25) Liverpool (7.00) Bournemouth (12.0)
17.00: (4.00) Wolverhampton (3.60) Brighton (2.00)
19.30: (2.90) Tottenham (3.60) Man.Utd. (2.50)
22.00: (1.75) Man.City (3.70) Newcastle (5.40)
Sunday
16.00: (1.75) Aston Villa (3.60) Everton (4.90)
18.30: (3.90) West Ham (3.50) Chelsea (2.05)
Monday
22.00: (6.25) Crystal Palace (4.00) Arsenal (1.62)
***odds are subject to change
