“They later divorced” – Super Eagles captain reveals how his love for football drove a wedge between his parents

Soccer’s function as a novel and essential connective tissue that binds individuals collectively is well-known, however it could possibly additionally generally make foes of excellent mates

Tremendous Eagles defender William Troost-Ekong has opened up on the function his soccer desires performed in inflicting friction and ultimately separating his mother and father.

Born to a Nigerian father and a Dutch mom in Haarlem, Netherlands, Troost-Ekong developed a style for soccer at a young age.

His father, although, noticed a college training because the surest method to keep away from a lifetime of lack and poverty. And the elder Ekong despatched his younger son, aged 12, to a boarding faculty in England to be disciplined for the next establishment.

Three years later, although, Troost-Ekong returned dwelling, not with college admission papers however paperwork to achieve admission right into a soccer academy in England.

Naturally, his father refused to signal the contract, however his mom signed it for him simply earlier than the chance slipped. It was a call that might result in the separation of the Ekongs.

“He (Ekong’s father) didn’t need me to play soccer,” Troost-Ekong stated, as per The Nation.

“He felt I ought to go to school, however I needed soccer.

“I’m nonetheless very grateful to her (the mom) for that. It brought about appreciable friction between my mother and father. Later, they divorced.”

Leaving education for soccer additionally affected Ekong’s relationship together with his father. And it took a decade for father and son to make peace lastly.

“For a very long time, we didn’t converse with one another,” the Watford defender added.

“He felt that faculty was my finest probability for a vivid future that’s not within the offing for a lot of Nigerians. Now that I’m a father myself, I can perceive him higher.

“We’re each very cussed. I needed to show him incorrect. After the 2018 World Cup, we made peace.”

Troost-Ekong’s success story

Troost-Ekong’s perseverance and tenacity helped him show his father incorrect.

He began his skilled profession at Groningen in 2013, nevertheless it took a year-long mortgage at FC Dordrecht for the younger centre-back to seek out his ft.

The defender moved to crew up with Gent in 2015 however discovered sport time exhausting to return by in Belgium.

At about that point, Troost-Ekong switched his worldwide allegiance to Nigeria, and it has been an upswing for his profession since.

He discovered success on one other mortgage transfer to Haugesund in Norway and in 2017, he joined Turkish membership Bursaspor.

Troost-Ekong spent solely a 12 months in Turkey earlier than Udinese splashed the money to take him to Italy and provide him his first probability at enjoying in certainly one of Europe’s high 5 leagues.

The 29-year-old defender signed for Watford in 2020 and helped the Hornets achieve promotion to the English Premier League in his first season.

Troost-Ekong already has a profession to be pleased with and boasts an Olympic Video games bronze medal and an Africa Cup of Nations bronze medal.

He has skippered the Tremendous Eagles and has 62 caps and 4 targets for the three-time African champions.