Chelsea’s Makanjuola wants to be world best at 17

Makanjuola who hails from Ifon in Osun State was born on April 19 1999. He started his football career with Niger United Football Academy and later moved to Water Football Academy in the FCT where he was invited to the National U-13 football team. He was part of the team that travelled to the UAE […]

Makanjuola who hails from Ifon in Osun State was born on April 19 1999. He started his football career with Niger United Football Academy and later moved to Water Football Academy in the FCT where he was invited to the National U-13 football team. He was part of the team that travelled to the UAE for an invitational tournament where he won the Most Valuable Player Award.

The attacking midfielder has already won so many laurels here in Nigeria and outside. He won the MVP Award U-10 YSFON competition in 2007, MVP Award YSFON U-11 in 2008, won MVP Award YSFON U-12 in 2009.

And outside Nigeria, young Makanjuola came first in the Red Bull Street ball juggling Tournament in Lagos which qualified him to represent Nigeria in Redbull World final football juggling tournament in South Africa in April 2010 where he emerged champion at the age of 12. At the moment, he is said to be the most talented and skillful Nigerian football player with the nick-name football wizard.

Makanjuola has amazing football juggling skills and usually holds spectators spell-bound with his mesmerizing skills. The youngster’s major breakthrough came in 2010 when he performed at the Redeemed Christian Church of God Redemption Camp with a capacity crowd of over 80,000 in attendance. There and then he was awarded a scholarship by the General Overseer of the Church, Pastor Eunuch Adeboye to go and study in England. Presently he is a student of Cambridge in London.

Makanjuola therefore used a stone to kill two birds with a stone as with the support of his guardian and FIFA players agent, Makanjuola Nureni, he went on trials at Chelsea and it did not take long for the famous England club to hand him a deal which he signed recently.

Why I signed for Chelsea?

Although clubs like Barcelona, Lyon and Manchester were also interested in me, I settled for Chelsea because of their youth development programmes. I am confident that with what I saw in the club, I will realize my ambition to become the world’s best football player at the age of 17.

Dump Nigeria for another country?

I know I am going to be a great player and many countries would like me to represent them but nothing will make me dump Nigeria. There is no place like home. Even if I am not invited by my country of birth, I will continue to wait.

Any contact with Mikel?

Not really, we have not held one on one discussion but he knows that I have joined the feeder team. We only say hello to each other when we meet at the training ground. The truth is that we train at the same time so it is difficult for us to see and talk. But I believe one day, we would meet and discuss. However, I am very close to the technical director Mike Emenalo and Chelsea’s former player Bosingwa. He says he likes my style of play.

Expecting invitation to the National U-17 team?

I am not yet 13 but if given a chance, I can play for the National U-17 team. I am ready and I want the coaches to give me a chance. I know that God has blessed me with so much talent and I want to start serving my country early.

Greater than Jay-Jay Okocha?

I know that Jay-Jay Okocha and Kanu Nwankwo are legends but I am going to be greater than them. I have unique skills and that’s why it did not take me long to sign for Chelsea. The moment they watched me play, they saw my abilities. By the special grace of God, I am going to be the greatest football player out of Nigeria.

Play for Chelsea forever?

No, I know I won’t play for Chelsea forever. If I leave Chelsea, I will like to play for Barcelona. I like the club and it’s the club I have always supported. Now that I have been given a contract by Chelsea, I will focus on developing my game using the club’s training programmes and amazing facilities there. With Chelsea I can achieve my dream of becoming the youngest ever world best football player.