If you asked any Premier League enthusiast about the 2015/16 season’s relegation candidates last year, Watford football club would definitely be on the list. However, Quique Sanchez Flores’ men have defied the odds, and are just six points away from the top four, midway through their campaign.
Central to their success has been Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo, who is the club’s top scorer with 14 goals. The 26-year old was the chief tormentor in their marquee victory over Liverpool two weeks ago. He scored two of Watford’s three goals, highlighting his exponential growth this season.
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Ighalo’s journey to the Premier League has been full of determination, hard work and courage. Growing up in harsh socio-economic condition, he used to play street football in one of Lagos’ poorest and notorious slums, Ajegunle.
We didn’t have money to buy a football, played with cans: Ighalo
His own house was located beside a filthy drainage, which was the main cause of a malaria epidemic in the slums. Right beside the canal was Lagos’ most affluent neighbourhood known as Appa. Ighalo said, “We used to stand by the canal and hope that we would one day lead a comfortable life like that. I did not think that I would become a professional footballer as I used to only play street football.”
He added, "I’m the youngest [with twin sister Julieta] in a family of seven kids. We hoped for a better life. We would stand by the canal, look across it and pray for a miracle that will take us out of the ghetto. The little house we lived in was built by my father and he made sure we didn't starve like other kids.”
Ighalo stated that the predominant source of income for the slum was stealing. However, his parents always encouraged him to dream of bigger things. He added, “a hungry child will be tempted to steal and a homeless one will seek shelter with the area boys. But my parents always told me not to get into the habbit as I was destined for bigger things.”
At just nine years of age, Ighalo was the top footballer in the neighbourhood. Exceptional ball control, with the speed to match saw him dribble past players more than twice his age. But, lack of facilities was a massive barrier at a young age for him.
He said, “Growing up, we kicked cans, oranges and plastic bags on the street. If we were lucky, someone will bring a plastic ball for three-a-side. It wasn’t easy, but it was not the equipment which mattered. All that mattered was the sport and us wanting to play the sport.”
Ighalo’s father banned him from playing football, when he was 12 years old, fearing his involvement with the neighbourhood gangs. However, his mother knew about Ighalo’s interest and saved up money to buy him boots.
With those boots, he played for his first team, the Olodi Warriors. There was no money involved, and the players paid for their own transportation. The Maracana stadium, where the team practiced had a small corner, which was dedicated to marijuana smoking gangs. Police used to often open fire at these gangs for alleged involvement in drug trafficiking.
Almost got shot by stray bullets during matches, because of raids: Ighalo
He said, “We'd run for cover because the chances of being hit by a stray bullet were high. You didn’t need extra motivation to succeed when you are born into the hardship and struggles of the ghetto.”
After impressive performances for the Warriors, Ighalo signed for Nigerian top flight club, Julius Berger FC. It was around this point, that he started becoming visible within the national setup.
His rise in Nigeria’s football hierarchy did not affect his studies. Ighalo graduated from High school with flying colours. If not for football, he was en-route to becoming a Human Rights lawyer. He said, “I had finished my secondary education with good results and was contemplating my next move just to get my father off my back. I had also planned to be a lawyer and fight for the rights of the people in Ajegunle. That’s when God paved the football route for me.”
Since then, Ighalo has consistently climbed the professional football hierarchy. He first plied his trade at Norwegian club Lyn, before signing for Serie A side Udinese. But, his most prolific time came during two loan spells at La Liga side Granada, where he scored 33 goals.
Another loan move to Watford, saw him score 23 goals in his very first season. Now one of the Premier League’s top scorers, Ighalo’s rise has been a case of natural progression.
Giving back to his community
After charting a turbulent rags to riches journey, he now wants to give back to the people of Nigeria. He said, “I know what it was like when I had nothing. I am not one of the big players in the world but I don’t live outside my limit and I always help people I can afford to. Even if I can afford to help one I will do it. I try to make sacrifice for them as I know how it was when I had nothing, too.”
He added, “I get my salary and I send money to my family and friends. I also have a charity for the less privileged. I send money so they can eat and go to school, and also send money to widows, women who don’t have husbands, around 45 of them. I take care of them every month. My plan is to open an organisation so I can give back to the poor.”
If Leicester are the story of the season, both Watford and Ighalo have been key perpetrators in disrupting the Premier League’s hierarchical balance.
