I used to walk an hour to training, Awoniyi recounts tough football journey

Taiwo Awoniyi, Nigeria international and Nottingham Forest forward, has detailed his tough beginnings as an aspiring footballer that has culminated in his stay at the City Ground. The Ilorin-born striker revealed this and more in a lengthy interview with Nottingham Forest’s in-house media. Awoniyi started his ultimately successful dream of playing football professionally as a […]

Taiwo Awoniyi, Nigeria international and Nottingham Forest forward, has detailed his tough beginnings as an aspiring footballer that has culminated in his stay at the City Ground.

The Ilorin-born striker revealed this and more in a lengthy interview with Nottingham Forest’s in-house media.

Awoniyi started his ultimately successful dream of playing football professionally as a seven years old boy in Ilorin with Unicorn Academy.

Following his dream at such early age meant he was away from home for long periods due to the distance.

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Awoniyi revealed he trekked for an hour everyday to get to training, amid other challenges that included repairing bad football boots sometimes for his use, lack of money for transportation, and playing on sandy pitches.

“I used to walk an hour to training every day to achieve my dream of becoming a Premier League footballer. That’s how it all began for me.

“It was really difficult getting football boots, going to training, getting money for transport — it was difficult. For me, I had to travel from my father’s house to training, which, as I said, was an hour away, and I had to do that every day.
“Sometimes I had to make my boots myself; I would go and get boots that were left over and make them up. Sometimes we would play on sand, so it was really difficult.”

Reflecting on how far the experience of early years has brought him, Awoniyi also acknowledged the role of God in the actualization of his dream.

“It’s really special for me to be where I am now because of how hard I have worked, but it’s something I don’t want to lose either. I’m so thankful for every match because I know what it takes to get to where I am today.

“I always have to give thanks to God. I’ve always said there is someone up there who is looking after me, which is my belief. When I look back, I’m always proud of how far I have come because I’ve managed to achieve everything I’ve always wished for.”

Awoniyi burst onto the scene as a youngster at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup where he scored four goals, and Liverpool snapped him up for £400,000 two years later.

He went on loan to seven different clubs before making first team breakthrough at Union Berlin.

Forest snapped him up in 2022 for a then-club-record fee of £17 million, and move Awoniyi said he was excited about.
“When the opportunity came to join Forest, I was at Union Berlin, a fantastic club. It was quite similar to Forest; it was a family club.
“I was so excited to see what the City Ground was all about. It motivated me to come back to the Premier League, and I’m so thankful I chose to join Forest.”
Despite recurring injuries, including a life-threatening abdominal injury that required emergency surgery and induced coma last year, Awoniyi has made scored 19 goals and provided 4 assists in 85 appearances for Forest in all competitions.