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 this is how it started.
He was barely 13 when he lost his mum and as if that wasn’t enough, 3 months after loosing his mum, his father lost his job.
His father losing his job meant them moving from a 2 bedroom flat to 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 Born” in Nigeria 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*
His siblings sold Newspapers and sold oranges on the streets, 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*
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 play of the then Ultimate Strikers Academy, but he never played. *PERSONALIZE YOUR DREAM*
In 2014 at the age 16 he went for the Nigeria Under-17 team screening held in Abuja by Coach Amuneke.
More than 2 million 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*
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 in green”.
Coach Amuneke turned and called out “The guy on green” he turned because he wore green ran back and that was how he got selected into the Under-17 World Cup 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 Show Award (Second Best Players)
Then the European bigs clubs came calling.
On January 5th 2017 he signed for the German club, Wolfsburg and was supposed to start living the life right, but it got thougher 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 time.
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 fie thanksgiving.
He was about to travel back to Germany, he had his bags packed when he woke and found himself in a hospital bed in Nigeria.
For a player that doesn’t scored a goal in 2 years of turning pro. He scored 20 goals in 36 appearances for the club and later let to join French club Lille.
He went to France and scored 18 goals making him a fan favorite among the Lille faithful but that was just the start of his story.
Italian giants, Napoli FC broke their transfer record to make him the most expensive African player when they paid Lille (#39.7 billion) $96m.
And in 2022/23 season he led Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years breaking all sort of records along the way.
He’s now the African with the most goals scored in a single Serie A season breaking Samuel Eto’s record.
With sumptuous performance last season He bags Italian FA Footballer of the year on Monday last week.
He also won footballer of the year prize for 2023 at the AIC Oscar del Calcio Awards.
Osimhen was ranked eight in the 2023 Ballon’dor becoming the highest-rated Nigerian since inception.
He became prince of Naples.
And just yesterday To cap it all, Victor James Osimhen won 2023 CAF Men’s Player of the Year Award in Marrakech, Morocco.
John Ogu called him a beast with a lion’s heart.
Odion Ighalo called him the crown prince to the throne of Nigeria attackers.
He is one of the hottest top prospects in world football at the moment. He is Victor James Osimhen the new African King.
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’s the new African King and one of the best strikers in World football.
His poor ground made him dream !!.
His challenges toughened him !!
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 dream are valid .
Don’t Ever Give up on yourself.
Don’t Ever Give up on your dreams.
Credit: Some parts of article was extracted from Sports Dokita.
Credit: Sports Dokita.
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