WATFORD of England striker, Jude Odion Ighalo is proud to
be among the stars that emerge from Ajegunle ghetto, one of the poorest and
toughest neighborhoods of Lagos.
Ajegunle has a reputation for producing some of Nigeria's
best footballers, including former Inter and AC Milan defender, Taribo West, weapon
of mass destruction, Obafemi Martins, Emmanuel Amunike and Victor Agali just to
mention a few.
“Growing up in Ajegunle was tough,” Ighalo told sportsbiz247.blogspot.com
during a friendly match he organize in
honour of his late dad, Pa Paul Ighalo at Navy Town football pitch in Ajegunle,
Lagos, on Sunday.
“Back then I didn't have any other person to support me other
than my mother who was there for me. Back then, I was selling icewater (sachet)
and soft drinks in a small shop and we use the gain to buy football shoes,
Jersey, transport for games and all that.
“I thank God for His mercies. Coming out from Ajegunle
and seeing people that are looking up to me, I can't afford to fail and that
kept me going. If I remember those that I left behind in Ajegunle, so many
players that are better than me and they don't have the opportunity to be like who
I am today, it gives me courage. So I want to encourage them and advised them
to keep working hard, do their best, believe in themselves and the sky will be their
limit.
The match played under heavy rain has the President of
the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, CEO of capital oil and sponsor
of the event, Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah among invited guests.
Foreign based players including Super Eagles vice captain, Ogenyi Onazi, Brown
Ideye, Raheem Lawal, John Ogu, Dele Alampasu and Imoh Ezekiel were in action in
the match titled "Ighalo and Friends vs Ajegunle Boys”.
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