A former Egypt-based midfielder, Innocent Azuonye was reeling in a sea of tears at the weekened, after burglars invaded his home and made away with all his football kit, Sports247 reports.
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The shock development, which occurred at his residence in Orile-Iganmu area of Lagos, is another major setback for Azuonye, who returned to Nigeria early this year, after an ill-fated sojourn in Egypt.
Although his days in The Land of The Pharaohs began on a bright note, with huge prospects ahead of him, it was soon spoilt by what he referred to as discrimination against him by officials of the club.
Azuonye alleged in an exclusive chat with Sports247 that the club in Egypt frustrated him, then withheld his international transfer certificate when he insisted on leaving, thereby making it impossible for him to sign for another club.
He then came close to dumping football, with a thought of turning to trading at one of the popular markets in Lagos, until friends prevailed on him to pick up his career once again from the grassroots.
He eventually dusted his boots after months of hesitation, but that move has now been hit with a huge blockade, following the theft of all kit he had been using in his spirited bid to get his career back on track as a free agent in this summer’s transfer window.
“I’m not really happy right now. Someone came to my house and stole my bag that all my kits are in. My boots, my socks, my two yellow jerseys and white playing pants.
“Even my shin guard, my bandage and my tights were taken by the thief. Now I am back to ground zero, like I was when I left Egypt,” Azuonye lamented.
The once-promising lad at White Sand Field, Orile-Iganmu also shot his mind back to the ugly experience he faced in Egypt and recalled that it was simply a case of ethnic bias that he faced from a coach who preferred using his indigenous players.
“I was playing for a club in Egypt, but they frustrated me and they did not like me. They said I should play out of my position and go to right-full-back in defence.
“My agent argued with them, and they agreed to let me stay. I got an offer in Togo, but they did not want me to go and refused to release me.
“I also refused to play for their team again, and that’s how I left them. I could not get another team because they did not release my transfer certificate. That’s how I returned to Nigeria.
“I could not get a club because they were all asking for my transfer certificate. That’s when I started thinking about going into business. I used to do some business before travelling and I started thinking about starting it again.
“I eventually decided to start playing grassroots football again, so that I will get a transfer this summer as a free agent, but see what those wicked thieves have done to me,” Azuonye whimpered.
Sports247 recalls that Azuonye made top marks some years back when he featured for the under-15 squad of National Grassroots Dream Team in a competition at Olusosun Primary School, Oregun, Lagos.
He and his colleagues were in sparkling form and reached the final of the competition on the same pitch where Galatasaray of Turkey striker, Victor Osimhen started his football journey.
