International Footballer Wilfred Ndidi Reveals The Difficulties He Had Growing Up

Nigerian international and Leicester City midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, has revealed that he helped his mother hawk fruits in Lagos to help the family survive before he became a professional footballer.

Ndidi spoke via Out of Home Podcast series, adding that growing up wasn’t easy.

“Though we had some ups and downs and trying to meet up with some bills, I was always there for my mum.

“My mum was a food vendor and I supported her by hawking. I don’t regret that because growing up was really tough because it was all about survival. There were no fruits that I didn’t sell.


“I was the market boy and I was known mostly for selling groundnuts because it comes out every season. Just name them – I sold peppers, tomatoes and avocado. We basically sold fruits that came with different seasons. All these were done to survive in the military zone and outside.”

He also disclosed that his father was against his ambition to play football.

He said: “It was difficult because my dad wanted me to go to school, but there was no money. What made it easier for me was when he was transferred out of Lagos.

“I had the freedom because when he was around, if I go out to train and he gets home before me, I have to explain where I was coming from. When I tell him I went to play football, I get whooped.

“There was a time I got whooped with a cow skin ‘Koboko’ and it was like a tattoo on my body. I couldn’t wear my shirt because when I put my clothes on, it becomes sticky and it’s painful. It was a military kind of discipline.”

from the willnigeria