Why dropped Super Eagles striker did not end up a writer in Lagos

Paul Onuachu is currently firing on all cylinders at the Turkish Super Lig as he notched eight goals fourteen appearances

Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu has revealed a pivotal moment in his football carrer as he recounts pressures from his parents that nearly steered him away from football and toward a writing career, Soccernet.ng reports.

Renowned for his towering stature, Onuachu continues his scoring spree in the Turkish Super Lig, having netted 8 goals for Trabzonspor after his successful stint at Belgium’s KRC Genk.

Despite making it to the initial 40-man Super Eagles list, he was eventually dropped from the final 25-man roster for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Recalling a challenging period in his early career, Onuachu disclosed his parents’ desire for him to quickly secure a stable income for the family. He confessed contemplating a writing job in Lagos due to the mounting pressure.

The striker’s fortune turned when he encountered a coach who facilitated a trial with FC Ebedei, affiliated with Danish club Midtjylland, rescuing him from the brink of a career diversion.

“I love this game very much. Before coming to Europe to play football, I was playing football in the neighborhood team in Lagos, Nigeria. My mother and father of course supported me playing football for a long time, but when I reached a certain point, my father said that I had grown up and stopped supporting me. He said he was tired. I had to stand on my feet and bring something home because our circumstances required it. That’s why I was preparing to apply for a job in Lagos in writing.

“I believed in football, myself and my abilities, but my father’s pressure was increasing. At that time I met a coach and he asked me if I would like to go on trials with FC Ebedei. FC Ebedei is a semi-amateur, semi-professional club that has an agreement with the Danish Club Midtjylland. I was so happy, I accepted immediately. After the trials, my football life officially started with Ebedei and I am here now,” he narrated, as quoted by Trtspors.

His tenure with Midtjylland, starting in 2012, eventually led to a move to Genk in 2019, where he amassed an impressive record of 85 goals in 134 appearances. A stint with Southampton yielded no goals in 18 appearances before his resurgence with Trabzonspor on loan.

Onuachu’s resilience and dedication propelled him back into form, showcasing his prowess in front of the goal, currently thriving in the league.