Super Eagles star Moses Simon has revealed that he almost missed out on becoming a professional footballer, Soccernet.ng reported.
Simon, one of the most prolific Nigerian wingers in Europe’s major leagues, says if he had followed his father’s wishes he would have become a doctor or a soldier.
But in an interview with L’Equipe, the Nantes striker explained how the talented young Simon required a five-hour meeting with his military father and another officer before being allowed to play football. He talked about it in detail.
“Everyday life is difficult in the area where we lived. “He (Simon’s father) didn’t want me to be a bad guy,” said Simon, who grew up in barracks. say.
“He said to me, ‘You should do something good in the military or something, but not be a football player!’ They’ll vote when they graduate college.” Me was a good student. That’s why my father saw me as a soldier or a doctor. However, I chose a high school where I played football.
“Then the coach at the football school said to me, “Simon, you’re a good player. You’re a good player.” Now I’m going to talk to your father. Because… Because you might become a professional.
“But everyone was afraid of my father. He was a very tough and scary man. There was only one other soldier who could talk to him about this. Even the fathers of the other coaches at the academy. He was a military man. He felt strong enough to come and talk.
“He arrived home at 1 p.m., and the discussion ended at 6 p.m.,” his father warned him. “He is my son.” I chose a career for him as a soldier or a doctor. If something happened to him, you would be in trouble. ”
When he was allowed to play soccer, Simon grabbed him with both hands.
The youngster left the GBS Academy in 2013 and joined Ajax. Although his stay in the Netherlands did not go as planned, he came to Trenčín in 2014 and became one of the best recruits in Slovakia.
The following year, Simon moved to Belgium and signed with Gent, helping the club win the Belgian Pro League and the Belgian Super Cup in his first few months.
In August 2018, La Liga activists Levante secured the signing of Simon to a five-year contract.
Simon originally joined Nantes on a season-long loan in 2020, before making the move permanent 12 months later.
The 28-year-old is one of the most prolific Nigerian wingers in Ligue 1 history, scoring 24 goals and providing 27 assists in 133 games.
Simon has played 60 games and scored nine goals for Nigeria and was also a member of the Super Eagles team that won a bronze medal at the 2019 African Cup of Nations in Egypt.
