Popular Nigerian musician, Charles Chibuezechukwu, best known as Crayon, has opened up about a crucial moment in his life that altered his Football dream.

The artist recently shared a candid account of how certain high-ranking members of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) abruptly halted his promising football career, casting a shadow over his aspirations.

In a compelling conversation with Cool FM Nigeria in Lagos, the maestro of the hit ‘Trench To Triumph’ recounted his experience of being selected to represent a national youth team back in 2015.

However, the promising path he was embarking upon was abruptly derailed due to the actions of a group of unscrupulous officials who left their mark on his life story.

As Crayon revisited those heart-wrenching moments, he unveiled the toll it took on his mental well-being.

The weight of being excluded from an opportunity he had earned was compounded by the fact that his friends were venturing into the world of higher education.

The stark contrast between his circumstances and the flourishing lives of his peers plunged him into a bout of depression, magnifying the feeling of isolation.

Reflecting on his earlier days, Crayon shared his deep-rooted connection with football, a passion that earned him the moniker ‘Coutinho’ within his community, a nod to the renowned Liverpool player.

Driven by his dream of becoming a professional footballer, he embarked on the challenging path, driven by sheer determination.

Yet, the artist’s aspirations were met with a harsh reality: the Nigerian football scene was filled with deep rooted corruption.

“My footballing career at that time wasn’t really kicking off for me as well. I used to play football. I used to be a proper footballer. They called me ‘Coutinho’ in my hood. You know prime Coutinho who played for Liverpool?” He said.

Despite his reluctance to mention names, Crayon offered an insight into the systemic issues that plagued football in Nigeria.

The presence of corruption and favoritism in the selection process cast a long shadow over his dreams.

“I tried to become a professional footballer but it didn’t work out for me because football in Nigeria is quite dicey. There is a lot of corruption. I don’t want to mention names because it might hurt some people. They are big names; top [football] officials,” Crayon noted

One poignant incident at Surulere National Stadium encapsulated the prevailing state of affairs.

NFF officials, entrusted with nurturing talent, instead succumbed to the allure of money and connections.

The consequence? A young and promising player had his football dream shattered, his potential squandered for the sake of expediency.

“At a time I went for one screening in Surulere [National Stadium], they [NFF officials] picked me and they had to like swindle me and pick someone else because the person had money and connections. So, at that point, I became disappointed. I went home depressed,” he concluded.

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Last Updated on August 25, 2023 12:44 pm by footballrover