Manchester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho has disclosed that his stubbornness has been the reason behind his success in football.
The 19-year-old Nigeria international is one of the bright spots of the youth system of the expensively-assembled, star-studded Manchester City squad.
Iheanacho who already has a goal for the Citizens’ first team this season despite being used from the bench is one of the highly-rated youngsters expected to take the English Premier League by storm.
But the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup Golden Ball winner in an interview with the Manchester Evening News said it was not all rosy at the beginning as growing up was difficult and his parents did not initially support his dream of playing football.
Iheanacho said that it was sheer stubbornness and determination that made him overcome his parents’ initial reluctance to support him and scale the huddle life as a Nigerian placed on his path.
“It’s really hard over there in my country; it’s really hard in Africa. I started playing football when I was a kid. I love football but things that aren’t footballs, I played with as well. Even if I was walking in the road, I’d play with stones because I love football.
“My parents didn’t want be to play football, they wanted me to go to school and study my books but I was so stubborn.
“I represented my state and then Nigeria Under-15 and under-18s, then we represented Nigeria at the Under-17 World Cup. I couldn’t believe that. The head coach came he gave me confidence to play so I started playing and playing well.
“That’s how I started and my father is proud of me now. Everywhere he goes they just point at him and say look at Kelechi’s father.”