Nigerian-born rugby star and England captain, Maro Itoje is reeling out praises over the emergence of one of his younger cousins as a potential sensation at Arsenal FC, Sports247 reports.
Itoje was filled with delight after getting reports about the breakthrough of 17 year old Andre Harriman-Annous, who got his Arsenal debut in their Carabao Cup victory over Brighton.
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The youngster played 77 minutes of The Gunners’ 2-0 win at Emirates Stadium, after going on in place of Declan Rice, much to the delight of Itoje, whose full name is Oghenemaro.
The Saracens rugby club’s well-acclaimed lock, who is also reputed as a very vocal Arsenal fan, described Harriman-Annous’ debut as incredibly exciting and a continuation of the gene for success that runs in their family’s blood.
The youngster, who has a Nigerian mother and Ghanaian father, will clock 18 on December 28th, but he is already setting tongues wagging, and Itoje said, “I’m very happy for him. He has worked incredibly hard over the last 10 years.
“I remember going to his house, and his older cousins were putting him through his paces as a seven-year-old. I remembered thinking it was quite intense! Everyone is really happy and really proud.”
The 31-year-old Itoje, who never shies away from his Nigerian roots, started playing rugby at the age of 11 and reached 100 international caps on the 19th of July this year, a landmark he believes Arsenal’s latest kid on the block can equally achieve or surpass in football.
“I have passed the baton. I want him to fly. He has done amazingly well and long may it continue, not only because he is my cousin but also because I support Arsenal. It is a double whammy.
“In terms of being a professional and the mindset and mentality to training and improving and the dedication and consistency which is required, I think all of those things are definitely applicable and transferable,” Itoje added.
He concluded by picking some of the attributes and traits he believes will help the youngster grow rapidly and eventually become an Arsenal legend like the London-based club’s other Nigerian-born sensations – the iconic Bukayo Saka and another fast-rising youngster, Ethan Nwaneri.
“He is a really good kid. With football especially – and it is the same in rugby, with the money at play, the attention and the spotlight – it can be quite a tricky space for a young person to navigate. But, so far, he has done great.
“His mum has been amazing and is making sure there’s a good team around him,” submitted Itoje, whose all-time Arsenal hero has always been their former captain and battling midfielder, Patrick Vieira.
