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Bolu Olabige: I want to work hard like Ronaldo

 

At 16, Bolu Olabige wants to work hard like Cristaino Ronaldo to achieve his dream of taking his career to the next level.

Olabige who is a Nigerian teenage utility player on the books of the Barcelona Academy in Arizona, US, has spent the major part of his career on the wings.

He scored six goals and nine assists in the colours of the Barcelona Academy last season while winning the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award twice.

Olabige said the strong mentality and positive work ethics of the Portuguese star has helped influence how he plays and trains.

“Ronaldo is my hero and I have learned a lot from him  because of his mentality of never giving up and always reaching for the best which has influenced me into how I look and play the game today. He is very hard-working, which is something I want to replicate as well.

“Also, I would also say Ousmane Dembele because of how well he plays his position. He is versatile because he can play both wings. His 1v1s beats defenders, and his crosses are elite and what is expected of a Winger. He also contributes assists and goals to his team.”

Asked to comment on how he started his career, the teenager expressed appreciation to his parents who made a lot of sacrifice to help him actualise his dreams of playing professional football.

“Football was the first sport I ever remember watching with my dad. I was interested in it because of the passion I had for the sport. When I played, it was something I had a natural instinct for and something I began to love.

“I had a family that grew up in a football-saturated environment. I started playing football at the age of 3 and followed through with the right steps to take the sport seriously and fulfill my aspirations of becoming a professional. Until I was 14 and 1/2, I was just playing club football for my local town teams, going to and winning tournaments, scoring goals, and making a name for myself. Then, I took a calculated risk to move to Arizona to play for Barca Residency Academy. There, I’ve moved my way up the ranks in around two years and now I play for U-17 MLS in the highest youth league in the United States.

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“I enjoyed constant support and encouragement from my parents because they sacrificed a lot so I could play football competitively. Also, I would say wanting to play professionally from a young age because it made my mindset stronger. These include discipline, dedication, devotion, and focus. Most importantly, God has helped all the way through as a player.”

Olabige wants to play in the English Premier League in the next few years and he’s ready to raise his game to make that dream come to fruition.

“The main football league I want to play in is the English Premier League. The EPL is one of the best leagues in the world because they are known for being physical and high-pace. Playing in that league would mean constantly challenging myself to raise my level and constantly performing week-in, week-out.” he said.

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