‘Ijaya Olusosun’, as Victor Osimhen is fondly called among his peers in the Ojota area of Lagos, Nigeria, has proven that poverty is not intrinsically a trap....CONTINUE READING
After three seasons in Italy, the Nigerian international has led Napoli to the prestigious Serie A title, which has eluded the club for over three decades – they are already praising him like Diego Maradona…..CONTINUE READING
Having started his career with local club Ultimate Strikers Academy, the striker, who has played in Germany, Belgium, and France, will now be crowned champion in Italy.
From selling water in Lagos traffic to becoming the most expensive African footballer in history, here is the story of Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen.
Growing up in Olusosun
Olusosun, a landfill site, is located in the Ojota area of Lagos State, Nigeria. It was established in 1992 and covers about 42.7 hectares, with an average of 1000 000 tons of waste being collected annually.
“Here in Olusosun, people develop at their own pace,” Alhaji Semiu Olusola Yusuf, the secretary of the ‘Baale in Council’ of the area, told Sports Brief.
He added: “Osimhen was born here. I knew the mother and the father. I know all his siblings; he lived somewhere around Anisere Street.”
“His background was not a fantastic one, thank God for his life that took him up and gave him the talent.”
Selling water as a means of survival
The Napoli star once admitted that life was tough for himself and his siblings. He disclosed that he resorted to selling water on the streets in their bid to survive. He said via Sun News:
“I came from a very poor background, seven children, and I was the last born. I lost my mom at the age of six, and it was very difficult for my family because my dad also lost his job around that period. So I was forced to go out and get myself a life.
“In Lagos, they sell water (bottle or sachet) which is the easiest, but the hardest because you have to run and give somebody the water and collect money.”
“He is very responsible. Anytime I’m heading to the bakery, I’ll call on Victor to help me carry bread. Before her death, his mother sold sachet water. It was tough for them.”
Journey to Serie A title
Following his exploits for French club Lille after scoring 18 goals in 38 matches, Osimhen caught the eye of Gennaro Gattuso, the-then manager of Napoli.
He became the Serie A club’s record signing after joining for an initial €50 million plus add-ons in the summer of 2020.
His first season was marred by injury and COVID-19 complications, but the striker still managed to score ten goals in 24 league matches.
Following a visit to the Olusosun community, a trader who lives opposite Osimhen’s former house added that the lad also helped her in selling bread. ‘Mama Oke’ added that he ran errands for her.
Osimhen then netted 14 goals in his second season with the Partenopei. However, in the 2022/2023 season, the Nigerian international has netted 22 league goals so far as Napoli are now Serie A champions, including the all-important equalizer against Udinese that secured the Serie A title for Napoli.
It is the first Scudetto for the club in more than three decades. The last time Napoli were crowned Italian champions was during 1989-1990 when the legendary Diego Armando Maradona was the star of the club…..CONTINUE READING
