A teammate of former Super Eagles’ attacker Nnamdi Oduamadi in their days together at Dama Boys FC of Coker-Orile, Lagos has provided business tips to motivate any youngster who feels frustrated by unfulfilled dreams in football.
The youngster, Emmanuel James Ovie told Sports247 he is no longer involved actively in football because he opted to concentrate on business after several attempts to get a breakthrough in the round leather game fell flat.
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Ovie disclosed further that he is now fully involved in branding products, promotion of commercial services, marketing goods and direct sales, in order to make ends meet.
While praising the efforts of his grassroots coach, Joseph Dama Agbahavbie, who is now based in Ibadan, Ovie, who is also a moralist and motivational speaker, advised that any kid with football talent must also develop ideas of making money through legitimate business.
He added in a chat with Sports247: “I’ll like to share my story to motivate aspiring footballers that it’s not wise to keep knocking on the door when an answer is not forthcoming and age is counting. They have to start making real efforts on how to balance it with business.
“That’s what I did when I found out that time was running out, and I was yet to get my breakthrough. What I do in football now is mentoring, grooming, and pushing young players in my own little way, which is basically by motivating them with words of wisdom.”
He then outlined several success codes that can help young footballers to become successful in other aspects of life once the much desired golden fleece does not come their way early enough, especially when they remain at the grassroots.
The petit former right-back and winger recalled, “All the years when I was playing football, apart from when I was in school, I always looked out for something to support my soccer career. I know that I’m very gifted and where I’m coming from, a lot of people bank on me.
“So, I had to balance it. I was very happy that some of my coaches noticed how I balanced things at my tender age … instead of just football, football, football.”
He concluded with a stern charge to younger players who are either in school or yet to gain admission to a higher institution to avoid negative peer pressure that could ruin their chances of an early breakthrough in football.
“Those of us that really know and understand how the dividends of football can be picked don’t really make it to the big stage. At the same time, some who get entangled with bad friends may go deeply astray.
“Some, due to lack of support, get tired along the way. Some feel they are bullied by their colleagues who travel abroad before them. My advice is, keep pushing, but don’t wait until it’s too late,” Ovie stressed.
