Ex-Super Eagles and Stoke City attacker, Peter Osaze Odemwingie, has revealed what motivated him to be a successful footballer, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 42-year-old was born in Uzbekistan to a Russian mother and a Nigerian father before moving to Benin City as a two-year-old. He returned to complete his secondary education and during that time, joined the CSKA Moscow Academy. He returned to Edo State at the age of 17, staying with his dad who worked as an Insurance doctor,
Born in Uzbekistan to a Russian Mum & Nigerian Dad before moving to Benin City as a two-year-old.
Peter Odemwingie returned🇷🇺to complete his secondary education. He joined the academy of CSKA Moscow.
Returned to🇳🇬where his dad was Insurance doctor🥼
Spoke to #OldNaijaFootball pic.twitter.com/l2z6bSuQ3o
— Oluwashina Okeleji (@oluwashina) July 8, 2024
Speaking in an interview, the former West Brom striker revealed why he opted to start his football career with Bendel Insurance in the NPFL.
“I arrived at Benin City at the age of 17. I saw Pius Ikedia and Julius Aghahowa in training. They were fantastic players, and I learned from them. We had Augustine Eguavoen, who was our General manager at the time, so there were a lot of people to learn from. Chukwudi Nwogu played for the U-17 National team at the time, so things like this got me excited about football, and I saw these guys every day. Karimu Shuaibu played for the Eaglets at the World Cup and returned with the kit. Those were things that provoked me to work hard, so I saw international people in front of me on a daily basis,” the ex-Super Eagles versatile attacker said.
“I had the first-hand experience of watching these people play at the Ogbe Stadium in the Nigerian league, so that’s why I said if these guys started here and became international and went on to Europe to have careers, I can too. So, I followed that path, and I always advise people not to expect things to fall on their table. Some people don’t believe I played in the NPFL. I travelled by road to Maiduguri and to all these spots, from the furthest points in the North to Port Harcourt. I scored against Sunshine Stars in Akure and Pepsi Academy in Kaduna. I’ve done it all. So, I know all the corners of the elite and the ghettos of football in Nigeria. I played in the Nations Cup in Ajegunle, too,” Osaze concluded.
Osaze recently completed a course from the Professional Golfers Association school, as he set sights on another profession in Sports.