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SportsDokita (Odogwu ☝️) Profile picture
@Sports_Doctor2
May 5, 2023 • 23 tweets • 11 min read • Read on X
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“15 MINUTES”
(The Guy On Green)

- He lost his mother at a young age

- His father lost his job 3 months after he lost his wife

- He sold pure water on the streets of Lagos

- He was rejected by many clubs but today is one of BEST players in the world and it started with 15… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… Image
He was barely 13 when he lost his mum and as if that wasn't enough, 3months after losing his mum,his father lost his job.

His father losing his job meant them moving from a 2 bedroom flat to a SELF CONTAIN, now imagine 8 people living in a self contain apartment.

A TOUGH START!
He was the last amongst 7 kids but he didn’t get the special treatment given to “Last Borns” in Nigerian homes.

He rather joined his elder siblings in hustling to make sure they survived, he hawked “Pure water” along Ojota road, Lagos State.

A BORN HUSTLER! Image
His siblings sold newspapers & sold oranges on the street, it was a family united in making sure they survived.

He lived in one of Lagos state’s biggest refuse dump sites in Olusosun but that didn't stop the young boy from dreaming, in fact he dreamt big!

DREAM BIG, IT’S FREE! Image
His father wanted him to become a doctor but he dropped out of school to pursue his dream of becoming a footballer and his father supported him.

He played street football and was a youth player of the then Ultimate Strikers Academy, but he never played.

PERSONALIZE YOUR DREAM! Image
In 2014 at age 16 he went for the Nigeria Under-17 team screening held in Abuja by coach Amuneke.

More than 2million players were in the Abuja stadium and they were both given 15 MINUTES to impress.

In 15 MINUTES he scored 2 goals!

“LUCK IS WHEN OPPORTUNITY MEETS PREPARATION” Image
It wasn’t enough as the tired Amuneke sent him and the others away.

But as they left, he heard Nigeria team doctor telling the coach Amuneke to try out "The guy on green"

Coach Amuneke turned and called out "The guy on green!!!", he turned because he wore green, ran back and… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… Image
And that was how he got selected into the Under-17 WC team, he later went on to win the following;

• 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup
• 2015 FIFA U-17 Golden Boot (Highest Goal Scorer)
• 2015 FIFA Silver shoe award (Second Best Player)

Then the European bigs clubs came calling.

THE… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… Image
On January 5th 2017 he signed for the German club, Wolfsburg and was supposed to start living the life right, but it got tougher for him.

The coach that brought him to Germany got sacked and he got injured on his right knee and had to be operated 3 different times.

A TALE OF… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… Image
After surgery, he started training to get fit, while training he had a shoulder injury that needed another surgery.

After surgery he came back to Nigeria to be with his family and get fitter before returning to Germany. He got better and even went to church for thanksgiving… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… Image
He was about to travel back to Germany, he had his bags packed when he woke and found himself in a hospital bed in Lagos.

Wolfsburg thought he didn't want to come back for pre-season and asked for doctors report and pictures which he did.

He was diagnosed of malaria and… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
ZULTE WAREGEM in Belgium wanted him on loan, so he went to train with them, they tested him and found out he still had malaria but the coach told him to keep training.

For 3wks he trained, scored goals in training and the coach promised him, the club would sign him. Image
Finally an escape route but on the eve to the day he would be signed, his agent was called and told he wasn't needed again.

He went to Wolfsburg who relegated him to the Under-19 team to train so he could be fit to be loaned out later.

Whilst training, another club called. Image
It was the Belgian Champions CLUB BRUGGE, He was happy, went to Belgium where he passed his medicals and the team doctor told him it's left for the club president to make the move official.

The deal was never made official as Club President turned down the deal.
He was broken!! Image
He went back to Germany where he would wake up by 4am to cry, he told his agent not to worry about any transfer again so as to allow him stay and fight for his place in Germany.

On a Wednesday morning, 5days to the closure of the European transfer market, he got another call. Image
It was a call from another Belgian Club, this time CHARLEROI FC, a voice introduced himself as the Club president and told him "Can you come to Charleroi, I want to sign you"

He left for Belgian on road with his agent and they spent 7hours, when he got to Belgian...HE GOT SIGNED Image
For a player that hasn't scored a goal in 2yrs of turning pro. He scored 20goals in 36 app for the club and later left to join French Club Lille.

He went to France and scored 18goals making him a fan favorite among the Lille faithful but that was just the start of his story. Image
Italian giants, Napoli FC broke their transfer record to make him the most expensive African player when they paid Lille $96M (N39.7Billion).

And just yesterday he led Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years breaking all sorts of records along the way.

He’s now the… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… ImageImage
John Ogu called him a beast with a lion’s heart.

Odion Ighalo called him the crown Prince to the throne of Nigerian attackers.

He is one the hottest top prospects in world football at the moment

He is VICTOR JAMES OSIMHEN!!!

Now watch a fully packed stadium celebrate and… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Now he is no longer “The guy on green”, he is no longer the guy that lived on a refuse dump and hawked table water, we know his name!!!

He is Victor James Osimhen, one of the best strikers in world football.

His poor background made him dream!!!
His challenges toughened him!!! Image
Your background is not meant to put you on the ground, it should be a stepping stone.

Your challenges shouldn't stop you, it should toughen and motivate you to come out better.

Your Dreams Are Valid!!!
Don't Ever Give Up On Yourself!!!
Don't Ever Give Up On Your Dreams!!! Image
For more threads like this one, search using #OdogwuTales, they're plenty, and click on the FOLLOW button for there is more to come.

Have A Fun Filled Friday 😎😎😎
 Image
Disclaimer: Please the first two pictures in this thread were used for ILLUSTRATION only, they’re not Victor Osimhen.

Thanks.

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More from @Sports_Doctor2

SportsDokita (Odogwu ☝️) Profile picture
Jul 29
“FELIPE”
(The Boy Who Kept His Promise)

Douglas Sousa pursued a career in football as he played amateur football in Brazil, traveling to several small clubs to play football but wasn’t successful.

While he traveled, his wife and kids stayed at an orphanage until he returned and had to start working as a bricklayer assistant to support his family.

During his playing days, he introduced his first son, Endrick to football, taking him to his games where Endrick was the mascot of his team.

That was where it all began…

“EVERY STORY HAS AN END, BUT IN LIFE EVERY ENDING IS A NEW BEGINNING”

#OdogwuTalesImage
As Endrick grew up, he started training with his father, Douglas who would make videos of him performing silky skills and upload them on YouTube.

He was so poor that one day, young Endrick asked for food, he checked the cabinet and the fridge and there was nothing to give him.

He told Endrick, “my son, I have nothing” and broke down in tears and Endrick gave him a long hug and made him a promise saying, “Pai, don’t worry, I will be a football player and I will bring you out of this trouble.”

“DON’T EVER PROMISE MORE THAN YOU CAN DELIVER, BUT ALWAYS DELIVER MORE THAN YOU PROMISE.”Image
Douglas started visiting football academies showing off Endrick’s YouTube videos and there was a lot of interest from top scouts.

At first, São Paulo FC accepted Endrick and advised Endrick’s family to move to the region where their football academy was located.

Endrick’s father wanted the club to help cover some of the costs of them moving to a new city or provide him with a job as he didn’t want to stay far from his son but São Paulo FC could only offer them 150 Brazilian Real per month ($28.5) and that wasn’t enough.

After São Paulo FC refused, he made more videos of Endrick and uploads them on YouTube.

“A REJECTION IS NOTHING MORE THAN A NECESSARY STEP IN THE PURSUIT OF SUCCESS”Image
Read 10 tweets
SportsDokita (Odogwu ☝️) Profile picture
Jul 22
“RUSPA”
(The Kid Who Never Gave Up)

Riccardo Calafiori was only 6 years old when he was scouted by Roma because of his exceptional ability and physique.

He was nicknamed “Ruspa” which means “The Bulldozer” by his father because of his playing style at the age of 9 joined the Roma Academy and at the age of 16 signed his first professional contract with Roma.

Just when he thought he had achieved his dream, it turned into a freaking nightmare!!!!

“DON’T STOP DREAMING BECAUSE YOU HAD A NIGHTMARE”
#OdogwuTalesImage
In October 2018, after he had just won the Italian Youth Cup with the Roma Under-17s, they were to face Viktoria Pozen who was visiting Rome for the UEFA Youth League match.

The match was evenly poised at 3-3 late in the second half, Calafiori was with the ball when he was tackled by a Viktoria Pozen player with a high boot on his knee immediately injuring him, leaving him in severe pain!!!

He suffered what was termed, a “Once In A Decade” injury and had to be stretched out. An injury that had first-team Roma players in shock!!!

“PAIN IS INEVITABLE, SUFFERING IS OPTIONAL”Image
Image
Image
His dream of playing was over as his best chance was being able to get back on his feet and walk.

He suffered a COMPLETE TEAR of ALL the ligaments in his knee. He tore his ACL, PCL, MCL, and LCL, and everything was torn.

Dzeko held up his jersey when he scored a hat-trick against the Viktoria senior team, his idol De Rossi came to visit him in the hospital, and his teammates too.

AS Roma wanted to have his surgery done in Italy but his agent, late Super agent Mino Raiola refused, insisting on him going to the United States.

Why?

“WHEN THE WHY IS CLEAR, THE HOW IS EASY”Image
Read 7 tweets
SportsDokita (Odogwu ☝️) Profile picture
Jul 20
“THE WILLIAMS BROTHERS”
(Kweku The Traveler)

Inaki Williams, the elder brother of Spanish wing sensation and Euros 2024 winner, Nico Williams had just turned 20 when he asked his mum, “How did we come to Spain?”

His mum told him, “Sit down, I think you’re ready to hear the story of papa and me now.”

For years, nobody knew that side of Inaki Williams who was now an Athletic Bilbao star with his brother, and his parents refused to tell him the story until he turned 20.

His parents, Maria and Felix left Ghana shortly after they got married, they crossed the Sahara desert without food or water.

“EVERYONE HAS A STORY TO TELL, BE WILLING TO HEAR IT BEFORE JUDGING”
RT!
#OdogwuTalesImage
They were being smuggled into Spain so they had to be light as ever, with no luggage, they walked barefoot across the Sahara desert sand of about 40-50 degrees hot.

Many couldn't make it and to make matters worse, Maria discovered she was pregnant with Inaki Williams.

You can imagine a pregnant woman trekking barefooted through the Sahara Desert for days without food and water.

They finally got to Spain, she had to climb the fence into Melilla, Spain’s north African enclave, and immediately got arrested together with her husband, Felix.

“TOUGH TIMES NEVER LAST BUT TOUGH PEOPLE DO”Image
They didn't have papers, so while in prison waiting to be deported back to Ghana, a lawyer from a Catholic NGO who understood English saved them.

He told them, the only way they could avoid being deported back to Ghana is to lie and say they were from a country at war.

They immediately tore up their Ghana papers and said they were from Liberia to apply for political asylum.

The Liberian Civil war was still ongoing and that was how they were allowed to stay in Bilbao, Spain.

They got state housing and met the priest, Inaki Madones.

“REAL STRENGTH HAS TO DO WITH HELPING OTHERS”Image
Read 10 tweets
SportsDokita (Odogwu ☝️) Profile picture
Jul 5
“DIBU”
(Just Wait!!!)

As a child, he would watch his father cry because he couldn't pay their bills. He would see his parents starve so he and his brother could have something to eat.

Emi Martinez was playing for Independiente and was living in Buenos Aires and could only see his parents twice a month because they couldn't afford to come to see him play always.

Martinez didn't just see football as his passion, he saw it as an escape route from poverty for himself and his family.

“POVERTY IS A GREAT MOTIVATING FACTOR”
#OdogwuTalesImage
He was only 16 when Arsenal invited him to come for a trial and when he got a call a week later from the Gunners offering him a place at the Emirates, his mother and brother were crying, begging him not to go but when he remembered his father crying, he said “Yes for them” because it wasn't easy for him.

He was alone in a new country where he had to learn a new language as he couldn't speak English and an entirely new culture as a 16-year-old!!!

“SOMETIMES THE HARDEST DECISIONS AND THE RIGHT DECISIONS ARE THE SAME”Image
His English was so bad that Arsenal put a clause in his contract that if he passed his English exams in Cambridge, they would pay him £20,000, and he did!!!!

He wanted to play but didn't have any game time at Arsenal, at one point he was the 3rd choice but Arsene and Arsenal offered him a contract meant for the 2nd choice goalkeeper and Arsene Wenger told him, “Just Wait, you will be my first choice” and he waited!!!!

“BETTER THINGS ARE ON THE WAY, JUST WAIT!!!”Image
Read 11 tweets
SportsDokita (Odogwu ☝️) Profile picture
Jun 22
“THE PSR TRANSFERS”
(The Mini EPL Transfer Deadline)

On the 6th of June 2024, it was reported that 6 EPL clubs would have to sell a player or 2 before June 30th to be able to comply with the “PSR” rules.

The clubs mentioned were Chelsea, Aston Villa, Everton, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and Leicester City.

Since then, we've been seeing some “funny moves” among these clubs but what is “PSR” and how does it affect these clubs?Image
PSR means “Profit & Sustainability Rules”. They're financial rules and regulations aimed at making sure EPL clubs don't overspend or accumulate excessive debt.

EPL clubs are allowed to make a loss of up to £105Million over a 3-year period or less if they spend some time outside the EPL like Leicester City recently got promoted but anything more, you will be breaking the PSR rules.Image
So these clubs are now signing players from each other to be able to get around and make a profit reducing their annual loss.

Let me break it down with Aston Villa signing Ian Maatsen for £37.5M and Chelsea signing Aston Villa’s Omari Kellyman for £19M.

Now these two players are “ACADEMY PLAYERS” so they will represent “PURE PROFIT” on each club's balance books.Image
Read 6 tweets
SportsDokita (Odogwu ☝️) Profile picture
Jun 22
“TRANSFER FEES VS PLAYER SALARIES”
(How Do They Affect A Club’s Finance)

Yesterday, transfer guru David Ornstein @David_Ornstein broke the news that Chelsea was pulling out of the Olise deal as the player's wage demands made the deal very expensive.

This is news that divided the Chelsea fanbase as many believed the club owners should have done everything to bring in Olise even if it meant disrupting the wage structure at Chelsea.

They felt if they could spend millions on transfer fees, why couldn't they just pay Olise whatever he wanted?

I think I can tell them why, follow me closely, and retweet.Image
- What Are TRANSFER FEES & How Does It Affect A Club’s Finance?

Transfer fees are ONE-TIME expenditures that can also be paid off in installments via “amortization” like what Chelsea has done with Enzo, Mudryk, and Caicedo's transfer fees.

The transfer fees are divided by the number of years the player signed, for example, sign a player for 100M and give him a 5-year deal. With amortization, you divide it by 5 years, meaning each year you pay 20M.

This reduces the financial burden on the club.Image
Transfer fees are also seen as “INVESTMENTS” and that's what determines how much you're willing to go for a player.

As an investment, the club can decide to sell anytime and depending on the player's performance, it could lead to them getting back the money invested plus gains or losses.

The key thing remains, transfer fees are a “ONE-TIME” outlay of cash that can be recouped or lost depending on the player's performance.Image
Read 7 tweets

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