By Daily Sports on December 31, 2016

Nigeria No.1 goalkeeper Carl Ikeme has described as a long but enjoyable journey with English Championship club Wolves after he extended his contract with them.

The 30-year-old Ikeme has at Wolves since he was 15 and he has now signed a contract that will keep him at the club till the summer of 2019.

He recounted his durability.

“I still remember signing here for the first time as a 16-year-old, signing as a scholar at Molineux with everyone else,” he said.

“That was a big day for me.

“It was a lot different then, and you never know what the future is going to hold!

“In those early days you just think about surviving at the club and then as time goes on you start thinking you can actually do it.

“I am just glad that I have stayed here throughout my career so far.

“I feel like I know the club and I know everyone here.

“It has been a long journey but an enjoyable one.”

He added, “I know some people sometimes feel they need to leave a club to have a fresh and new challenge.

“But for me all those challenges are here, and I am looking forward to kicking on.

“How have I survived at Wolves for so long? You don’t get anywhere without working hard.

“That has always been ingrained in me.

“At 16 or 17 I would go in the gym in the evenings and I have always been one who wants to do extra stuff with the goalkeeping coaches.

“I have just always that hunger to keep improving and that has stood me in good stead in the long run.

“Football is about hard work, dedication and the sacrifices that I have made and my Mum and Dad have made in getting me to football as a youngster.

“It has all paid off.

“I have had to be patient at times and maybe occasions when I thought I might have to leave because Wolves have always had such strong goalkeepers.

“But I always wanted to number one here.

“You have ups and downs during the years but I have always stayed positive.

“Whenever I feel I am on a bit of a downer it is about then working even harder than you were before.” (mtnfootball.com)

•Photo shows Carl Ikeme and family

Source Daily Sports

Posted December 31, 2016

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