Living the dream: Seni Oyewumi

There are many young aspiring footballers, dying for a chance to make it. To be able to play professional football. Not all are ready to go the extra mile, to dedicate their time to the job, but I am. Not all are ready to go through the blood, the sweat and the tears to just get a chance, a FAIR chance.

You see living in England is tough for the majority of young footballers like myself. You've got some that are lucky, they're in academies already, why? They're all very muscular, super quick and fairly tall or of a good height. Yet players like myself, who are not the tallest, not the most muscular and are still of good speed. We get overlooked.

Maybe this is why England are slacking behind. Maybe this is why for many years the nation has failed to produce the quality of players that nations such as Brazil and Spain have. Now I'm 15 years old, both British and Nigerian born in London. I've been told I've got the talent by various coaches. I play as a striker and attacking midfielder. My role model? Thierry Henry Despite being told this, I've been turned down by various clubs due to me not being "strong enough" or "big enough". My first trial, I admit, the nerves got the better of me. However in the others I did my best but was brushed off because of the reasons I stated. Its frustrating. At times I felt live quitting football, I thought why am I still bothering. Then I remembered the likes of Ian Wright and Thierry Henry, both started playing football late, that gave me hope.

Arsenal is the team I've supported since 1998, since I've been in my mothers womb. I never miss a match. Never. Despite the club being in a recent decline and quickly becoming a public mockery, I haven't lost faith. One day, I hope to play for Arsenal and score goals week in week out.

Now its just to keep training and keep hope. Hope that one day the wait will come to an end. One day I will be signed by a club and play football as a job, I will do what I love doing best as a job, brilliant. Its not about the money or fame, I just want to play the game.

Good luck

Good luck

Good start Seni, you have so many stories atm

Thanks guys

Its tough when you're trying to find a club and join an academy, alongside with trying to be sound academically. You want to be out in the garden or at the park, practicing your keepy uppies or your shooting but you know you've got to study for tests upcoming and get your homework done so you don't get detention the next day.

My parents in particular and my father, who is more or less my agent is very strict about that. He knows how badly I want to play football but he insists I focus on my academics too. I remember a few years ago, or maybe it was a year ago when things started going downhill for me. I had a trial with Luton, but the nerves got the better of me and I failed to impress.

Next up on the list was Tottenham, despite being a massive Arsenal fan I wanted to impress. Unfortunately going into this little trial, I wasn't 100 percent fit. I tried my best but despite not being fit but I was told I couldn't make it. That I had the ability to make it as a pro, but it wouldn't be at Tottenham.

After that my life really started to go downhill, but I still had a trial with Stoke City the next week, I had to make sure I wasn't 100% fit for that. I did that, everyday I would go into the garden and practice my turns, my shooting, my ball control, my running. Thankfully at this time it was summer. At the trial I thought I had impressed and so did my father. Yet I got the same old result. No we can't take you on for one lame reason or the other. I considered quitting. What was the point of playing anymore, each time I attempted to impress a club, they turned me down.

My latest attempt was at a Stevenage open trial. I did quite well in this trial but only managed to get into their development squad, but that's not what I wanted and I rejected it, after all I'd been living in Nigeria and I would only accept an academy place. After this, my personal life became a mess, yet nobody noticed. It still is, but its slowly improving.

Recently, my father got in contact with a Watford FC coach. A local team. To be honest, I would love to play for them at any level. They're a great club that I support, alongside with Arsenal and Barnet, another local team.


Father says, for now I need to make sure I get the best grades possible, especially with my GCSE's to do next year. I agree with him, but I'm ever so eager to sign for a club. Maybe, just maybe Watford will be the club.

Hope all goes well for the virtual Seni!

Good luck