First Published July 14 , 2024

Ahead of our debut at the Gothia Puma Trophy tomorrow, we sat with him to speak about his career as a footballer so far and what he wants from Gothenburg. 

In JSS 3, I decided to stop playing football, to sell watermelons. 

Let me explain. 

Like most professional footballers, I started playing football very early. I was good at it. So good, I didn’t play with my age mates. Whenever the older boys wanted to play, they called me. Wallahi, I dribbled all of them. That was the first thing I was good at. Dribbling. 

The more I played, the more I got the chance to play. First, with the older kids, then with my class in school, then to represent my school in competitions. Coach Abdullahi was the referee in one of those competition matches when I was in JSS2. He owned a football academy and attended games like these to scout. I can’t remember if I scored in the game, but he came to me after and said he wanted me to join his team. I didn’t think too much about it, I just joined. There, I trained every Saturday and Sunday, first with the junior team from 12 noon to 3 p.m., and then with the senior team from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.. Every Saturday and Sunday, noon to 6p.m.. 

At first, my parents didn’t mind. Even I didn’t think I wanted to become a footballer. I didn’t think I was that good. I was just doing it for fun, and because I had a team I was training with. After JSS3 exams though, the pressure started. 

You see, I grew up in Abuja, in a big family where my dad sold shoes and his wives didn’t do much. We didn’t suffer, but it’s not like we were rich. So when they saw that the football thing wasn’t stopping, they began to put pressure on me. “Better focus on school”, “Is it this football you want to play to make money to take care of the family?” 

It was not just my parents’ comments that made me stop playing though. It was mainly my friends. During the break after our JSS3 exams, many of them began to sell watermelons. They would go to the trucks that brought watermelons from the north and buy in bulk…like 200 watermelons for the group! Then, they’d split them and begin to hawk. And they were cashing out. When we were together, they’d laugh at me. “You, it’s only ball you know. Look at us, we’re making money!” So I thought, why not? 

I joined them. I made money. I used it to buy clothes. I did this for six months. 

Coach Abdullahi had to lie to bring me back to the academy. 

He called me and said I was wasting my talent. That a club in Spain had watched me and wanted to sign me, but I wasn’t around. Wallahi, I left the watermelons and came back to football immediately. No club came, but I just decided to keep playing. Before I became a striker, I played as a winger. One day, our striker got injured and coach asked me to play as the 9. I’ve played as a striker since then, and I’ve scored a lot of goals. We played competitions in Abuja, Kano, Katsina and small small, clubs started calling me for trials, but no matter the clubs that came, my coach didn’t let me sign. I didn’t understand why, but looking back, he maybe just thought I was destined for something bigger. 

It wasn’t until SS2 — two years after my watermelon incident — that I finally seriously thought “Maybe I can become a footballer.” Why? Because someone I knew from Nigeria got signed by Midtjylland, a club in Denmark. Seeing this signing is also why I wasn’t interested in a Nigerian club. Because if someone I knew could get signed just like that, why not me? So I went for trials, but I knew nothing would happen because even if the club wanted me, I knew my manager would say no. Plus, I wanted Europe straight. 

Another two years passed and Sporting Lagos came. I had to travel to Ijebu for a trial. I’d never gone that far before. We played three games, lost one and drew the other two games. I scored one goal. I didn’t think they would call back. When they did, I didn’t think my coach would let me go. When he called me and said I should go, I was confused. I didn’t want to go. I didn’t want to be that far from my family. Even if I was going to be that far, it was meant to be straight to Europe. I didn’t even think my parents would agree. 

But my mum spoke with my dad and they said, “If this is what you want to do, we will keep praying for you to make it.”

Over a year later, I understand why my coach let me come here. I have become so much better as a footballer. I have learned a lot. I have met so many ballers. For example, Mukhtar Adamu is the best footballer I’ve played with in my life. 

My parents thought I was lying when I told them I was coming to Europe to play in the Gothia Puma Trophy. They thought I was just trying to calm their minds from worrying that I would not make it as a footballer. It wasn't until the embassy called my dad to confirm he believed me. They were so happy. 

Now, I’m here. 

See, I have so much to play for. My dad is getting old. I have seven siblings. I have my mother. I need to show them that they were right to trust me to become a footballer. I need to play to show what I’m capable of, and what this team is capable of. I need to score goals. This is a great opportunity for me. 

If I can do what I know how to do, I don’t have to worry about European Clubs not finding me. And I don’t have to worry about the world not knowing my name. 

My name is Yusuf Abdullahi and the world will know my name.