By Daily Sports on April 1, 2017
Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi says he went against the wishes of his parents in becoming a professional footballer.
The 20-year-old Nigeria international joined the Premier League champions from Belgian side Genk in January and has been a first-team regular since.
Despite his rapid rise, things could have turned out another way had he listened to his family.
“My family were not really into football,” he told the Leicester Mercury.
“My dad watched it on the television but he didn’t want me to play football. He is a soldier, but he didn’t want me to follow in his footsteps, he just wanted me to go to school.
“I did miss out on some school because of football. When I moved to Nath Boys academy then I started to miss out on some of my schooling.
“My family haven’t been over to see me play yet. They only see it on TV.”
After a debut win over Everton in the FA Cup, Ndidi's first Premier League game came up against leaders Chelsea, while he has already faced Manchester United and Liverpool and he feels he is getting used to the big players around him.
“When I was going on to the pitch I was nervous, seeing players like Romelu Lukaku and the players I was used to seeing on television,” he said.
“But when the game started I was like ‘okay, let’s just do it’. That is how I try to do things. That is the way I live.”
The Lagos-born player is not completely settled in though, as he admits he must get his driving licence, but he has team-mates to call upon to help.
“I know how to drive but I don’t have a licence. I need one over here,” he added.
“The lads came out and took a picture of me when the instructor came to pick me up for a lesson.
“Ahmed Musa has been helping me. He drives me around. If we have an away game, he picks me up and drives me to the airport, and he is showing me around.” (Goal.com)
•Photo shows Nigerian international midfielder Wilfred Ndidi.
Source Daily Sports
Posted April 1, 2017
You may also like...
Meet Mother of FCT Sports, Chief (Mrs.) Dilichukwu...
Rohr plans to drop Nigeria league stars for...
Aguero drops major hint that his Man City...
Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson undergoes emergency...
Male and female football teams to get equal...
Pinnick, Akinwunmi, Sanusi off to Mexico fo FIFA...
Latest News
Lookman opens 2025/26 goal account
Delap returns as Chelsea aim to solve striker issues
Aspinall 'still can't see' three days after eye poke
Norrie stuns Alcaraz for 'biggest win of career'
Brendan Rodgers quits as Celtic manager
De Bruyne injures thigh while scoring penalty
Juventus sack manager Tudor after seven months
How Andrews has brought about Brentford's tactical evolution
Vinicius Jr 'didn't want to offend' in Clasico clash
SWAN Honours Ezeonwuka, 40 Years After Building Rojenny, Nigeria’s First Private Stadium
Man City need to 'step up' as striker's goal run ends
'People are afraid' - why 'juggernaut' Arsenal are team to beat
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,277 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,485 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,438 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,048 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,033 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (51,994 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (51,822 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,411 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,517 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,076 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,494 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (46,958 views)
Lookman opens 2025/26 goal account
Delap returns as Chelsea aim to solve striker issues
Aspinall 'still can't see' three days after eye poke
Norrie stuns Alcaraz for 'biggest win of career'
Brendan Rodgers quits as Celtic manager
De Bruyne injures thigh while scoring penalty
Juventus sack manager Tudor after seven months
How Andrews has brought about Brentford's tactical evolution
Vinicius Jr 'didn't want to offend' in Clasico clash
SWAN Honours Ezeonwuka, 40 Years After Building Rojenny, Nigeria’s First Private Stadium
Man City need to 'step up' as striker's goal run ends
'People are afraid' - why 'juggernaut' Arsenal are team to beat
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,277 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,485 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,438 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,048 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,033 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (51,994 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (51,822 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,411 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,517 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,076 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,494 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (46,958 views)