- The heart-wrenching tale of a forgotten Nigerian footballer reignited painful conversations about the plight of athletes after the limelight dims.
- Once on the brink of greatness, with dreams of becoming a household name, his life took a devastating turn, plunging him into a harsh and unforgiving reality.
- After a devastating setback that derailed his football career, he recounted how his dreams of donning national colors on the world stage were replaced with the grim reality of daily survival.
Ubong Samuel, a former Nigerian Under-17 striker, has bravely shared the painful and heart-wrenching story of how an injury while on national duty forced him to give up his football dreams and led him to becoming a meat seller, a life he never imagined,
In a candid interview on the platform of renowned poverty activist Lucky Udu, Samuel opened up about the devastating turn his life took after playing in the 2011 CAF U-17 African Nations qualifier in Rwanda against the Republic of Congo.
The once-promising football star recalled how he sustained a severe injury that shattered his career and has left him with chronic pain to this day. With palpable anguish in his voice, Samuel revealed the cold reality he faced when he was abruptly dropped from the national team.
Despite the severity of his injury, he said the Nigerian Football Federation callously dismissed his plight, citing a lack of funds to treat his injury.
He spoke of his days under renowned coaches, sharing memories of his early promise and the heights he could have reached.
The once-celebrated striker added that he found himself in an unimaginable situation—forced to sell meat on the streets to make ends meet.
Samuel vividly recounted the humiliation of his new life, how he faced mockery and disdain from many who couldn’t fathom how a man who had once been hailed as a rising star in Nigerian football had ended up in such a state.
SEE THE INTERVIEW AND POST BELOW
