“My name is Todowede Tunmise,” he says softly, almost shyly, as he settles into a chat with Sports247.
Yet it takes only a few minutes on the pitch to realise that behind the gentle introduction lies a special talent. Small in stature but big in confidence, Tunmise stands out with his neat touches, sharp awareness, excellent ball control and impressive vision in midfield for Buruj Sports Academy.
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He caught the eye during a friendly match at Strong Tower, Ikorodu, where his composure and intelligence belied his age.
After the final whistle, it was impossible not to pull him aside for a conversation.
The words still come quietly, but the ambition is anything but small. Tunmise, a teenage footballer from Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State, does not pause when asked about his ultimate goal in the game.
“I want to take football to the professional level,” he says firmly, “and I want to win the Ballon d’Or.”
Like many remarkable football journeys, his story did not begin on perfect pitches or in organised academies. It began on the streets.
Before coaching drills and training kits, there was just a ball, open space and curiosity.
“I didn’t even know I could really play,” he recalls. “I used to watch footballers and try to do what they were doing. Then I started doing it myself.”
That curiosity eventually led him into different football academies. At the time, he admits, he was “naive” — raw, unrefined and still learning the fundamentals of the game. But even then, he knew growth was non-negotiable.
“I had to step up,” he says.
That decision pushed him through various academies across Lagos and beyond, each one bringing tougher competition and new lessons.
His journey eventually led him to Buruj Sports Academy, which he now describes as the best environment he has experienced.
“I don’t even know how they did it,” he says with a smile. “I just improved so fast. I understand the game better now, and I’ve grown in many areas — though I’m still learning.”
A major turning point in his development came when he began playing against older, more experienced players. For many teenagers, that step can be overwhelming.
For Tunmise, it was empowering.
“It wasn’t that hard,” he says confidently. “I didn’t really feel pressure.”
He explains the difference with clarity. Against players his age, time and space are easier to find. Against grown men, every second counts.
“These people know way more,” he explains. “If you want to hold the ball for five seconds, it’s very hard. They mark faster, they think faster.”
That intensity, he believes, is shaping him into a smarter and tougher footballer — qualities he knows are essential for the heights he dreams of reaching.
On the pitch, Tunmise sees himself as an attacking midfielder — a player who wants the ball, embraces responsibility and enjoys unlocking defences with movement and creativity. His football idols reflect that mindset.
“Ronaldo,” he says without hesitation.
Why?
“Because he doesn’t have any weaknesses.”
His admiration, however, is not limited to European stars. He speaks warmly of Nigerian legend Nwankwo Kanu, a name he says his father introduced him to, and of the pride he feels imagining himself one day wearing the green and white of Nigeria.
From the streets of Ipokia to academies in Lagos, from raw beginnings to structured development, Todowede Tunmise’s journey is only just beginning. There are no guarantees in football, no shortcuts and no promises. But there is belief — deep, fearless belief.
“I want to dig deep,” he says. “I want to go all the way.”l
For now, the Ballon d’Or remains a dream.
But every great football story starts the same way — with a young boy, a ball, and the courage to believe that the impossible is possible.
For Todowede Tunmise, that story is already being written.
