A remarkable defender in Nigeria’s cadet national team, Golden Eaglets’ squad that won the 2007 FIFA U17 World Cup in South Korea, Kingsley Udoh is seeking a revival of his personal life through a career in coaching.
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Sports247.ng reports that the product of Sagamu-based lower division side, FC Ebedie, is thinking of turning to coaching after running into a dead end as a player.
Udoh is now facing serious financial challenges and battling to feed, but even his desire to venture into coaching is up against a road block, sports247.ng gathered.
Although he eventually got a breakthrough into Nigeria’s senior national team in 2008, it was downhill from that point for the hard as nails centre back who was fondly called ‘Orija’ by his colleagues.
He played in the domestic league for Akwa United of Uyo, Heartland of Owerri, Pillars of Kano and Sunshine Stars of Akure, but his efforts at getting a major deal in Europe never saw light of the day.
His quest for the golden fleece in Europe saw him get trials with Atletico Madrid of Spain, Olympiacos of Greece, Olympique Lyon of France and Hansa Rostock of Germany at different periods of his progress as a player, but all came to nought, mostly through what he tagged negative antics of his agents.
Udoh then turned his attention on South America, where he tried out with Penarol of Uruguay and Llaneros of Colombia, yet it was a double dead end for the highly generous and friendly ex-youth international.
Despite his quickfire progression through Nigeria’s under-20 team, Flying Eagles and under-23 side, Olympic Eagles, the zenith of football could not be reached by Udoh, who cut his teeth in the round leather game while playing with Global Crystal Academy.
As if he was jinxed to end up as a pauper, despite his immense talent, the former stopper, who was born on December 7, 1990 alleges that three of the clubs he played for in Nigeria still owe him his dues.
Udoh disclosed that he was owed six million naira by Heartland, faced three months unpaid wages at Kano Pillars and endured four months unsettled salary at Sunshine Stars.
Sadly, a precious token of his once glorious days, the lone item that gave him joy, has also gone missing, as Udoh can no longer find the gold medal he and other members of the Golden Eaglets were adorned with after winning the Cadet Mundial in 2007.
“I can’t find my under-17 FIFA World Cup gold medal,” he cried out during a recent interview on radio.
“My father was in charge of it but, since he passed, I have not seen the medal.”
All said, Udoh is now trying to pick up the pieces of his dashed hopes and wants to remain relevant in football by becoming a professional coach … but he lacks funds to pursue a regular course that would qualify him as a certified tactician.
“It’s so bad. I am struggling to feed. I can’t even attend a coaching course, as I would have liked, because of lack of funds,” Udoh moaned.
He blamed his woes on disorganisation in the Nigerian league, where clubs do not keep terms of contracts with players, as well as shylock agents, who he says are always out to grab deals that satisfy their own personal needs.
