Former Super Eagles and Stoke City star, Peter Osaze Odemwingie, recently opened up about the driving force behind his successful football career, according to Soccernet.ng.
Odemwingie, now 42, had quite the multicultural upbringing. Born in Uzbekistan to a Russian mother and a Nigerian father, he moved to Benin City when he was just two. He returned to Russia for his secondary education and joined the CSKA Moscow Academy. At 17, he came back to Edo State to stay with his dad, an insurance doctor.
In a nostalgic interview, Odemwingie shared why he chose to kick off his football journey with Bendel Insurance in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL).
"Landing in Benin City at 17, I saw legends in the making like Pius Ikedia and Julius Aghahowa training. They were phenomenal. Augustine Eguavoen was our General Manager, and Chukwudi Nwogu was with the U-17 National team. Seeing these guys every day was like a spark to my football passion. Karimu Shuaibu, fresh from the World Cup with the Eaglets, brought back his kit, and it lit a fire in me. It pushed me to work harder, surrounded by international talent daily," Odemwingie reminisced.
Reflecting on his early days, he said, "Watching these players at Ogbe Stadium, I realized if they could start here and make it to Europe, so could I. That's why I advise people not to wait for opportunities to come to them. Some don't believe I played in the NPFL. I've traveled across Nigeria, from Maiduguri to Port Harcourt, scoring goals in Akure against Sunshine Stars and in Kaduna against Pepsi Academy. I've seen it all, from the elite stadiums to the ghettos of Nigerian football. I even played in the Nations Cup in Ajegunle."
Odemwingie, who was a dynamic presence for LOSC Lille in the 2006/2007 season, has recently added another feather to his cap. He completed a course from the Professional Golfers' Association school, aiming to pivot into a new sports career.
From football fields to fairways, Peter Odemwingie continues to inspire with his relentless pursuit of excellence.
