Following a fresh long-term contract with Liverpool,
Taiwo Awoniyi has been farmed out to Belgian club, KAA Gent where he
hopes to be among the goals and glory; reports MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN
Early in the mornings, Taiwo Awoniyi often sets forth at dawn with
the popular praise and worship song of Glowreeyah Braimah – Your name is
Yahweh – and the former junior international has revealed the reason
behind such routine; admitting his life and football career is nothing
but a miracle.
“My favourite song has been composed and sung by many gospel
singers,” began Awoniyi days after he signed another long five-year
contract with Liverpool; and before going on with the late night
conversation with our correspondent. Awoniyi, yet again, erupted into
his favourite melodious chorus: “Your name is Yahweh; your name is
Yahweh; you’re the miracle working God; your name is Yahweh.”
Awoniyi’s career has been miraculous since he was spotted few years
ago on the streets of Ilorin by United Academy Football Club. It was
from there Awoniyi went to Imperial Soccer Academy owned by former
Nigerian international midfielder, Seyi Olofinjana, after posting a
fine performance at the Copa-Coca Cola tournament London where he was
voted one of the Most Valuable Players. He would soon be on his way to
the national Under-15 side where he played along with the likes of
Kelechi Iheanacho, Chidera Eze, amongst other budding talents with whom
he was promoted to the national U-17 team, the Golden Eaglets class of
2013.
Sparingly used until the team’s main striker, Isaac Success, copped
an injury in the second FIFA U-17 World Cup match against Sweden,
Awoniyi seized the moment at the Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain by
scoring the important equaliser in that nervy 3-3 draw against the
Europeans.
He ended the tournament with four important goals that helped Nigeria
to her fourth title at the global cadet championship and his career has
been on the upward swing ever since.
Two years later, his goals also helped the Flying Eagles to a
gold-rious finish at the 2015 African Under-20 Nations Cup in Senegal
Eagles which qualified the country to the 2015 FIFA Under-20 World Cup
in New Zealand.
Awoniyi’s potentialities were there for all to see in New Zealand
despite the Flying Eagles’ little success since he was snapped up by
English Premier League side, Liverpool Football Club.
“I feel happy and really excited about this new contract with
Liverpool and all thanks to God because he made all things possible,”
offered Awoniyi with his usual pure smiles. “To be honest, I never see
it (the new contract) coming; all my goal was just to get better and
work hard wherever I found myself but it’s part of what I asked God
before the beginning of the last season and he made it possible.
“This is a long-term contract which will keep me as LFC (Liverpool
Football Club) player for more years and I know playing for Liverpool is
what will happen eventually if I get the work permit and the coach
finds me fitting in the style of play of the club
“But I believe giving me a new contract is due to the trust and
belief the club and the coaching staff have in me based on how I’ve
developed in the first three years (of the initial contract). I just
have to work harder and hopefully, God ‘ll make it a success.”
Awoniyi has every reason to be looking forward to his 21st
anniversary on August 12 coupled with his sterling performances as a
loanee out of Anfield in the last three years with three different clubs
including FSV Frankfurt , NEC Nijmegen and Royal Excel Mouscron.
Last season, he had the credit of scoring 11 goals and providing
seven assists in all competitions for Excel Mouscron in the Belgian
Jupiler. His fine performance has now been rewarded during the week
with another loan deal to Gent who reportedly finished fourth in the
Belgian top-flight last season to secure a spot for the final round of
Europa League qualification.
“I’m not discouraged in any way despite the fact that I’ve not been
able to play at Anfield with Liverpool since I’ve been on loan to
clubs in Germany, Holland and Belgium,” said Awoniyi who was shockingly
left out of the national U-23 team to the Rio 2016 Olympic Football
Tournament. “One thing that keeps me going even when I have
disappointments is my belief and trust in God.
“Many times, God has revealed himself to me as God in my life and
this alone can never get me discouraged about anything whatsoever in
life as a whole. And I must also add that my family has been very
important.
“From the start, playing football is just what I loved and I pray to
God to allow my dreams come true and that’s why I chose Liverpool.
“Going to Gent is good for me; Gent is one of the best clubs in
Belgium and with a very nice and good atmosphere to play. It’s an
opportunity of another year of hard work and commitment in getting
better as a player and hoping to develop more once giving the chance.
“Of course, I’m going to Gent for goals and glory. I’m going to
develop more as a player and for the success of the team; and whatever
we achieve as a team will be glory at the end of the championship. God
willing, I’ll score goals as well if I have the opportunity.”
Incidentally as a loanee away from Anfield, Awoniyi has given a rare
insight about his experience in Germany, Holland and Belgium in the last
three years, adding that it has bolstered his confidence for a better
and brighter future.
He volunteered: “I have had different experiences playing in Germany,
Holland and Belgium. It was quite a tough time for me in Holland (with
NEC Nijmegen) because I had less chance of playing most of the time. I
only got my chance when the club changed the coach towards the end of
the season; but the new coach gave me the chance and I was able to I
score in the last five games.
“It was quite different in Belgium. I got enough of playing time with
Mouscron immediately I joined them and this helped a lot as the league
progressed.
“Generally, the first two years in Germany and Holland were more of a
learning process for me; and I’m still learning and hopefully to get
better by the grace of God.
“Sometimes it is difficult to stay the same all through, most
especially when things are not going the way you wish for. I just keep
trusting God and doing my best; and hoping it will end in success.”
Born August 12, 1997, Awoniyi has remarkably featured at all levels
of the national team from the U-15 to the U-23 and he believes he
would soon earn his first international cap to follow on the legends of
his former teammates that have been so blessed in that regard.
“Life has taught me lot,” stated the unpretentious guy. “Everyone has
been taught one lesson or the other; life has taught me to trust and
lean only on God since he alone knows and ordains all things. I believe
God is the greatest.
“It is the dream of every player to be featured for the national team
(the Super Eagles), but I have never been disturbed (that some of my
former teammates at the youth levels were at Russia 2018) because I know
it will one day happen. With my mates that are already there in the
Super Eagles, it shows the hard work they’ve put into their game
especially with the likes of (Wilfred) Ndidi and (Kelechi) Iheanacho and
God has crowned it for them.
“The rest of us just have to work hard and pray God crown ours as
well; hopefully if is destined, I will get there as well God willing.”
Following the end of FIFA World Cup Russia 2018, the name on the lip
of everyone has been that of French youngster Kylian Mbape, but Awoniyi
differs on the choice of the most exciting player on planet football at
the moment.
“Currently, my most admired footballer in the world is Roberto
Firmino of Liverpool,” stated Awoniyi whose style is being compared with
legendary Nigerian striker, Rashid Yekini. “This is simply because he
works so hard for the team and he plays more for the team upfront and
makes the job easier for others
“I love his style; I love playing more for the team so that we can
get the needed points. Yes, scoring goals is very important, as well as a
striker but the team success is more important and I’m counting on God
for goals and glory with Gent,” stated Awoniyi.
Certainly, the rank and file of De Bufallos (The Buffalos) complete
with three other Nigerians including Samuel Kalu, Moses Simon and
Anderson Esiti would be delighted with the arrival of Awoniyi to the
Ghelamco Arena as the 2018/2019 Belgian Jupiler season gets underway.
AWONIYI: IN NUMBERS
1.The number of goals scored by Awoniyi in 13 appearances on his
first loan spell from Liverpool with 2. German side, FSV Frankfurt.
2.On his second loan spell with Dutch side NEC Nijmegen, Awoniyi was
featured 18 times in all competition but he managed to score just two
goals.
4.Awoniyi is a FIFA World Cup U-17 winner with Nigeria in 2013 and he
remarkably scored four goals in six matches he featured in as the
Golden Eaglets claimed the country’s fourth title in the United Arab
Emirates.
5.The number of years for his newly-signed contract with the English
Premier League, Liverpool Football Club, after he completed his first
three-year contract signed in 2015 for a reported fee of around
£400,000.
7. In 2015, Awoniyi’s goals were instrumental to the success of the
Flying Eagles at the CAF African U-20 Championship, and was credited
with seven goals in both the qualifiers and tournament proper held in
Senegal.
9.The last 2017/2018 season can well be described as Awoniyi’s best
moment so far as a Liverpool loanee to Belgian side, Royal Excel
Mouscron, where he scored an impressive nine goals in 29 matches to earn
him a new contract with the Anfield giants.
16.Awoniyi admitted June 16th 2018 is one of his happiest days after
he tied the nuptial knots at a celebrated white wedding in Ilorin with
his fiancée, Taiwo Jesudun, after engagement and traditional wedding a
day earlier in Kabba.
