Former NEPA of Lagos star, Victor Ighedosa, has shared the struggles of African footballers trying to make it in Europe. His new book is called ‘MARCUS, An African Boy’s European Dream’. The launch took place in Lagos.
The event had club owner, Chief Adewale Teluwo, leading many important guests. They included former Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ambassador Fanny Amun; former Lagos FA chairman, Waidi Akanni; current Lagos FA chairman, Hameed Liamid; and several former international players.
Ighedosa, who was the first Nigerian professional footballer to play in the Qatari Football League, said he wrote the book in memory of his late brother, Marcus. He also dedicated it to young African footballers who could not achieve their European dream.
“This book is a mix of fiction and non-fiction, inspired by real experiences and the real struggles many young African footballers go through to reach their dreams,” he said.
He pointed out that many families back home do not know about the difficulties young footballers face abroad. These challenges include culture shock and immigration problems.
“When I first went to Europe, I was not ready for many of the things I experienced. I faced racism for the first time. The culture was very different from ours.”
“The food, weather, language, and even the time difference were all new to me. I had to learn about immigration issues, mental health, and injuries,” Ighedosa said.
Teluwo helped launch the book with ₦2m. Akanni, representing the Lagos Legends, contributed ₦500,000, among other donations.
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