Once stranded in Russia, Nkanga John’s dreams of playing professional football in Europe remains alive

Like Brazil, the abundance of footballing talent in Nigeria knows no bounds, but not all these individuals make it to the professional stage. Even if they intend to get to the highest level, there is no conventional route to make it to the top, and largely, players are left to figure it out on their own.

One of those is Nkanga John David, who hails from Uyo, but grew up in Lagos, Nigeria. Recounting his experiences with Soccernet.ng, John revealed he had always harboured dreams of making it big in the world of football, finding solace and purpose on the football pitch.

“I always played football on the streets till I was discovered by a coach, who then decided to take me under his wings and help me develop. I played for several grassroots teams like Dynamites F.C. and Saviour F.C. I played in several local tournaments as well, but it wasn’t all just fun, I wanted to become a professional player. It was a dream I had to chase. My family, especially my dad, were very supportive,” the striker said in an interview with Soccernet.ng.

His father, recognizing his son’s talent, went to great lengths to support John’s ambitions, sending him on trial to several countries. John travelled to neighbouring Ghana to join Sam Sam’s Football Academy for a while but didn’t make their recruitment cut, which meant a return to Nigeria.

Georgia

Following the Ghana trip, he started teaching mathematics to high school students back home, alongside playing the piano to make money for self-sustenance whilst still actively pursuing a football career. After work, he would immediately get into his kit and head out for training.

A few months later, a scouting opportunity came up in Georgia, and his father came up trumps, supplying everything he needed for his trip to the Eastern part of Europe.

With hopes built up and dreams of finally playing football in a European club rekindled, the Nigerian striker met a shocker when he arrived in Georgia, as he could not attend the scouting tournament.

“We had a stop-over in Turkey before heading over to Georgia. On arrival at the airport, we were not allowed to move further. We were delayed while everyone else we travelled with was allowed to go. We were the only blacks on the trip, and the immigration officers kept asking us several questions and re-checking our papers. They held us down for over an hour. After a while, someone who looked like their senior advocate came to plead with us to not be annoyed, because they were action based on the instructions given to them, as they’d been told to not allow Nigerians into the country, based on what previous Nigerians had done in the country.”

Russia

The turning point in John’s journey came during the FIFA 2018 World Cup in Russia. Determined to seize any opportunity to further his career, John met an agent who offered him a chance to stay in Russia during the tournament, promising him he would find a club that would sign him and keep him in Europe.

Believing this was his ticket to signing with a European club, John paid the agent and received a FAN ID. Unfortunately, this ID was nothing more than a fan pass, valid only for the duration of the World Cup.

“I got into the country just before Nigeria played against Argentina, and I immediately met the agent, alongside some other guys that had paid for the FAN ID as well. Several Nigerian players were also there as well. We formed a Nigerian team in Russia at the time, and we went to several clubs and played several exhibition games.”

After the tournament, the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, extended the validity of the FAN IDs of the World Cup illegal immigrants by four months, giving them the chance to stay and explore the country for a little while longer. During this period, John went on trial with several clubs like CSKA Moscow, FC Hosta, and Inter Sochi.

Desperate to survive, John took up menial jobs, constantly evading the police after his FAN ID expired. The harsh Russian winter and the uncertainty of his future weighed heavily on him, but his resolve never wavered. However, his dreams of playing football in Europe were abruptly halted without the necessary documentation to sign with any club.

“We went for trials with several clubs, but they kept reiterating the same thing. They couldn’t sign us because our papers were not valid for them to sign us. It was never an ability issue. I remember scoring goals, and the coach telling me he wanted me on his team, but we couldn’t make a move happen,” John revealed.

Tragedy Strikes

Amidst the struggles in Russia, John received devastating news from Nigeria: his hero, his beloved father had passed away. The man who had been his biggest supporter, who had shared his dreams and aspirations, was no more.

In February 2019, after a wandering nine months in Russia, John returned to Nigeria to pay his final respects to his dad, carrying the weight of unfulfilled promises and dreams.

Faced with the reality of rebuilding his life from scratch, he resumed teaching and playing the piano to earn a living while still nurturing his dream of becoming a professional footballer.

Additionally, John was determined to honour his father’s dream. The trials in Ghana and Georgia, the struggles in Russia, and the countless rejections had only strengthened his resolve. He currently trains with a non-league side in Lagos, Nigeria, participating in local matches and tournaments, hoping to catch the eye of scouts once more.

Despite his numerous setbacks and the profound loss of his father, John continues to strive towards his goal, hoping that one day all will be well.

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