From the rough edges of Ajegunle to getting a breakthrough in Europe, and then going on to play and score for Manchester United, becoming the first-ever Nigerian to do so, Odion Ighalo has had quite a journey.
The latest step of the former Nigerian international’s notable football career is Asia where he is currently turning out for Al Shabab in the Saudi Professional League.
Ighalo started at grassroots club Olodi Warriors Sports Academy in the south-western state of Lagos in the early parts of the 2000s.
Mr. Tiamiu Taofeeq, the founder of Olodi Warriors, fondly remembers a former pupil who excelled.
“Odion Jude Ighalo happens to be a former player of Olodi Warriors,” Taofeeq tells Sports247.
“He used to come on and off sometimes, you know in the grassroots where there’s no money.”
According to Mr. Taofeeq, Ighalo’s mom had other plans for her son, wanting him to focus on his studies as that seamed a clearer path to achieving success in life.
“At times, the mother will ask him not to go to training at all that she wanted her son to go to the university to go and read the book. She didn’t want her son to play football.
“So at times for training, I used to send someone to go and pick him for me because I can not boldly go to their house because of his mother.”
In 2005, still a teenager, Ighalo impressed in a Warriors’ friendly against then Nigerian top-flight club Julius Berger FC and the club’s manager Fatai Amoo took interest in the youngster.
“As God will want it, there was a friendly match Olodi Warriors played against Julius Berger at Mapoli stadium at Abeokuta in 2005, December,” Mr. Taofeek recounts.
“So he, Ighalo, was spotted by the then coach of Julius Berger. Coach Fatai Amao spotted Ighalo and one other player called Ifeanyi Uwakwe.
“The coach picked both of them to go for Julius Berger screening. About two weeks later, Ighalo was registered with Julius Berger. That was where his professional career started.”
After a single season with Julius Berger in the Nigerian Premier League, Ighalo left to sign for Lyn Oslo of Norway.
He has had stops in Italy with Udinese, in England with Watford, and then to Manchester United via Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua.
Mr. Taofeeq feels deep pleasure for having played a part in the development of someone who would go on to reach the highest level.
“The day I heard he is having medical at Manchester United, my joy was overfilled. It’s a great joy for me. At least in my lifetime, I produced a player that played for Manchester United.” he said.
