Nigerian striker Promise David opens up about racism and hardship in Croatia

By Dayo Awoniyi

Nigerian-born striker Promise David, currently impressing with Belgian side Union St. Gilloise, has spoken publicly about the racism and poor living conditions he endured while playing in Croatia.

David, who previously represented Nigeria’s U23 national team but has since pledged international allegiance to Canada, recounted his difficult experience at Croatian lower-league club NK Trnje Zagreb.

“Things happened in Croatia that I didn’t even dare tell my parents. A lot of things you just had to learn to deal with,” he told reporters.

The striker described substandard living conditions, revealing that he was housed in a small space above a car repair shop. “I didn’t have a proper apartment… No bed, just a shower. It was a disaster,” he said.

A teammate’s shocked reaction upon visiting the apartment underscored the severity of the situation.

David also alleged that he was subjected to repeated racism by a coach at the club, who reportedly used racial slurs and discriminated against African players.

“Where do I start? That man… He didn’t want Black people, no Africans, in his team,” David claimed, citing repeated use of offensive language including terms like “Crnac” (Blackie) and “f***ing black, go get that cone.”

According to David, some of his teammates were visibly disturbed by the coach’s behavior, with one incident reportedly so severe that it was “too awful to repeat.”

Despite the hostile environment, David found support in the club’s youth setup, where he connected with teammates and a coach who encouraged him.

He marked his first-team debut with a goal, describing it as a personal triumph.

“It was the biggest ‘f*** you’ moment of my life. Felt like revenge on that one man,” he said.