It is said that when a successful man looks back, he only checks how far he has gone through the path of success. That is the case of former Arsenal man Alex Iwobi. The Nigerian winger pasted a photo of his early childhood on his Instagram page, commenting “mood”, obviously feeling nostalgic.
The reminisce of Iwobi may simply indicate that he has come a long way in his football career, not because he has played for Arsenal or he is a current player for Everton and the Super Eagles of Nigeria, but going by how he has come this far, his pathway makes him a hero and a model to everyone who longs for success, especially those who want to play football but does not have the means or willpower to do so.
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In retrospect, Alex Iwobi was taken to London when he was 4, by his family after his uncle Austin J.J Okocha relocated there to play with Bolton Wanderers. He was raised fully in an east London estate close to Bolton Wanderers. Iwobi signed for Arsenal while still at primary school at the tender age of eight. According to popular belief, His signature at the club was influenced by Austin Jay Jay Okocha.
Iwobi started playing academy football for the London club but has time went on, things didn’t go as he and his family members wanted as he was close to being released by the club when he was in his early teens. His mum wasn’t proud about the performance of her son as they sent her a letter threatening to release Alex Iwobi because he was not picking up in his football career.
As a player for a team like Arsenal, a lot is expected of you. It was an era arsenal dominated the English Premier League. Now one will understand that an ordinary performance is not enough to make you an Arsenal player. And why was Iwobi not good enough?
According to him “Because I wasn’t as big, fast or strong as everyone else, there were question marks on me and my ability that I wasn’t imposing myself on the game as I should. It was upsetting because I was also struggling at school, I was always thinking..‘What can I do to improve?’ I would have extra sessions with my dad or friends. My mum even made me do kick-ups in the living room. My sister even tried to play football. Even my mum invited her brother Okocha and his friend Kanu would come by to have private training sessions with me. Everyone indeed was trying to help me.”
Alex Iwobi responded so fast with the lessons everyone was giving him especially to that of Kanu and Okocha. As Iwobi improved, naturally, they all became proud of how he turned things around. Later on as youth-team player, he got braver on the pitch and learn not to shy away from physical challenges. With this tremendous improvement due to his never say die attitude, Arsenal were really impressed. As Iwobi took advantage of this new development, he led his youth team mates in winning trophies. As he gradually climb the lather to the first team, the rest was history.
He was first involved in a first-team match as an unused substitute in a League Cup match against West Bromwich Albion on 25 September 2013. He signed a long-term contract with Arsenal in October 2015.
On 27 October 2015. He later made a transfer to Everton for a new challenge. Today, Iwobi is one of the most important players for the Super eagles of Nigeria. It’s worth looking back to how he has come this far and still waxing strong.
