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Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner - Sports - Nairaland

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Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner by ogbiwa: 9:12am On Nov 22, 2017
That Victor Moses had the perseverance to make a success of his Chelsea career despite being continually sent out on loan says a great deal about his character.
Yet this determination pales into insignificance when compared to the biggest mountain he has had to climb.

Moses was just 11 when he arrived in England as an asylum seeker after both his mother and father were killed during religious clashes in Nigeria in 2002.
The 26-year-old was playing football in the streets when his parents lost their lives. Just a week later, his remaining family had cobbled together enough money to send him away from his homeland.

That is how a quiet, unassuming and non-English speaking African orphan found himself in south London and at the start of a dramatic change in his fortunes.

"It was tough in the beginning - being suddenly thrown into a different culture and stuff like that," Moses told BBC Sport.
"As a young boy in a new country, you had to make new friends and that was really difficult. When I first came, I couldn't even speak the language."
Having been placed with foster parents, Moses was sent to school in South Norwood, which was close to an asylum support and immigration centre in Croydon.

"When I started going to school, I started getting used to things, like the language," said Moses. "After that, I started adapting to school, friends and everything.
"It was really difficult to start with but I survived."
More than just surviving, the player has thrived in his second home.
Today Moses boasts Premier League, Europa League and Africa Cup of Nations winners' medals, and has also played in both the Champions League and World Cup.

The first tentative steps on the road of this blossoming career were taken shortly after arriving in London. As is common in young Nigerians, Moses played football for fun and his enthusiasm and prowess on the pitch soon led to him catching the attentions of Cosmos 90 FC, a team which played in a nearby youth league.
"At 13 it was my first contact with organised football and when they saw the way I was playing with the other kids and around the park, they knew I had talent," said Moses.
The Sunday League side had been struggling at the time but Moses' arrival soon turned the club's fortunes around and word rapidly spread about the dazzling African talent playing on the pitches of south London. Hundreds started watching Cosmos' games.

"It was Cosmos who actually told Crystal Palace about me," added Moses. "Palace came to have a look, liked what they saw and they took it from there."
Impressing on trial, Moses signed a schoolboy contract with the south London club.
Palace then placed the teenager in one of Croydon's best private schools, Whitgift , giving him access to superb tuition, facilities and an environment in which he could move on from his past at his own pace.
"Coming from where I was coming from, it was a different ball game," he recalled.
"Obviously the accent was a bit different from the way we spoke in Croydon but it was good to experience what private school was about.
"The treatment there was good, the education amazing. I was very happy that Palace gave me the opportunity to go to a school like that. I really enjoyed my time there."

On the football pitch his extraordinary goalscoring exploits for the school led them to the English Schools Under-14 Cup final where Moses scored all
five goals in the final .
In what now seems like fateful coincidence, Whitgift's football coach was a Chelsea legend, the former defender Colin Pates.
"He was a good man, and I always like being around him," said Moses. "He always encourages me every time he sees me and he always believed in me when we used to play school games."
"He encouraged me to do the best I can to become a professional footballer. At that time I was very young but when older people like that are giving advice, you have to take it.

"The most important thing that he always said to me is: 'You've got to work hard as a footballer. Talent alone won't take you there, hard work is what is going to help you'."
The Nigerian is grateful for the advice from such an experienced individual so early on in his career. Now the demands of notorious taskmaster Antonio Conte will shape the next phase of Moses' long and winding road to the top.
Prior to Conte's arrival at Chelsea in July 2016, only Rafa Benitez had given Moses anything like a chance at the Blues following his signing from Wigan Athletic in 2012.

After Benitez's exit, Jose Mourinho, who took charge in 2013, didn't have a place for Moses in his team and sent him away on consecutive season-long loans to Liverpool,Stoke and West Ham.
Yet Conte saw something in the Nigerian that no one else had spotted, not even Moses himself.
"I've never played that (wing-back) position before," says Moses. "When the manager came in, he talked me through it and then put me there.

"It was good to have the manager's support, and he backed me and gave me the confidence to go out there and express myself. So I just wanted to go out there to play for him, the fans and the football club. I didn't let him down."
Moses was thrust into Chelsea's starting line-up for the first time in three years, at Hull in the league in October 2016. He adapted to the unfamiliar role so well that not only was he named man-of-the-match , but his performance kicked started a run of 22 Premier League appearances in a row (halted only briefly when injury struck in April).
Rory Jennings, of CFC Fan TV, is under no illusions about the significance of Moses' development at wing-back.

"Moses played a huge role in Chelsea's success last season," he told BBC Sport. "His brilliance allowed us to amend our formation and play a system that nobody else in the Premier League could cope with."
Moses calls winning the title one of the happiest days in his life. He has also celebrated World Cup qualification this year with Nigeria, the country he opted to represent despite having played extensively for England at youth level.
Moses lifts the Premier League trophy after coach Antonio Conte turned him into a vital cog in the Chelsea machine

With a growing trophy haul, regular football and ever-increasing respect, Moses has
overcome both personal heartbreak and repeated professional setbacks to finally reach the top.

Surely few would begrudge him such success.
By Oluwashina Okeleji
BBC Sport, Nigeria



http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/42060348

16 Likes 2 Shares

Re: Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner by Sirheny007(m): 11:56am On Nov 22, 2017
Mossi nwamama grin
Thank your stars for Conte.
If it were Moubingo, You'd have gone back to cleaning the streets.
Ask our own Mikel.
It is said that the impression left by his buttocks are still visible on the bench.
some managers just dont like some players.
angry angry

9 Likes 1 Share

Re: Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner by TANTUMERGO007(m): 11:56am On Nov 22, 2017
grin
Re: Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner by lollypeezle(m): 11:56am On Nov 22, 2017
Victor Moses played well last season but that shouldn't earn him African best player. i don't support mediocrity.

Sadio Mane, Pierre Aubameyang and Mohammed Salah all outclassed him for the year even though some has no trophy to show for it.

I think the reason Victor Moses is being hailed of recent is because he outperformed his previous performance, he played a bit better than how he always do. That's all

9 Likes

Re: Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner by Dosmay(m): 11:56am On Nov 22, 2017
They don talk this b4 na
Re: Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner by Aieboocaar(m): 11:57am On Nov 22, 2017
"As a young boy in a new country, you had to make new friends and that was really difficult. When I first came, I couldn't even speak the language."

I smell lies!!

moses accent is now as polished and clean.... e come even speak English pass the Natives
Re: Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner by belindar: 11:57am On Nov 22, 2017
Nonsense, rubbish and liars. That is the story of nearly all Asylum seekers abroad

11 Likes 1 Share

Re: Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner by kay29000(m): 11:57am On Nov 22, 2017
Nice. Motivational story.
Re: Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner by rocknation62(m): 11:58am On Nov 22, 2017
shocked
Re: Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner by Nellybank(m): 11:59am On Nov 22, 2017
Oboy ur copy and paste is legendary. So this is how bloggers make money? Okaaaay
Re: Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner by coalcoal1(m): 12:00pm On Nov 22, 2017
great
Re: Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner by edo3(m): 12:01pm On Nov 22, 2017
I smell lies,,pls can someone help me with big nose meme?

3 Likes

Re: Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner by TEYA: 12:01pm On Nov 22, 2017
Re: Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner by jonadaft: 12:03pm On Nov 22, 2017
Criminal undecided undecided undecided undecided

liar
Re: Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner by free2ryhme: 12:04pm On Nov 22, 2017
ogbiwa:

By Oluwashina Okeleji
BBC Sport, Nigeria



http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/42060348

Nollywood script writers where are thou

Re: Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner by rebecca54: 12:04pm On Nov 22, 2017
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL POST & PROVES BY FACEBOOK USES

Make sure you login to Facebook to read all comment

1 Like

Re: Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner by TEYA: 12:05pm On Nov 22, 2017
Aieboocaar:


I smell lies!!

moses accent is now as polished and clean.... e come even speak English pass the Natives
Did you read where he talked of being 11 when he got to England? What are you expecting? That after learning and speaking the English language for over ten years he should be speaking English with your village accent?

16 Likes

Re: Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner by Nobody: 12:05pm On Nov 22, 2017
The end justifies the means
Re: Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner by fuckingAyaya(m): 12:06pm On Nov 22, 2017
But some people said it's a lie that his parents are both alive in EDO STATE that he just use that lie to gain asylum in England.don't know who to believe

1 Like

Re: Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner by Smooyis(m): 12:06pm On Nov 22, 2017
Am happy for him. May his parents souls rest in perfect peace. Amen
Re: Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner by Nobody: 12:06pm On Nov 22, 2017
Aieboocaar:


I smell lies!!

moses accent is now as polished and clean.... e come even speak English pass the Natives

4 Likes

Re: Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner by TEYA: 12:09pm On Nov 22, 2017
edo3:
I smell lies,,pls can someone help me with big nose meme?
You will get no big nose meme from me, this is all you will get: Shay you see as people dey use asylum do better thing, una people dey Italy and Germany dey do drugs and ashawo work. Make una change una way o!

5 Likes

Re: Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner by mu2sa2: 12:10pm On Nov 22, 2017
TEYA:

Did you read where he talked of being 11 when he got to England? What are you expecting? That after learning and speaking the English language for over ten years he should be speaking English with your village accent?
I assume at 11 he may have spoken only pidgin, some hausa & maybe his mother tongue. He actually learned English abroad.
Re: Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner by kingofthejungle(m): 12:10pm On Nov 22, 2017
Make I nor talk because foreigners dy nairaland
Re: Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner by PenlsCaP: 12:11pm On Nov 22, 2017
Y
Re: Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner by middada: 12:12pm On Nov 22, 2017
Re: Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner by edo3(m): 12:15pm On Nov 22, 2017
TEYA:

Shay you see as people dey use asylum do better thing, una people dey Italy and Germany dey do drugs and ashawo work. Make una change una way o!
Who be this bastard wey dey quote im father? And who told u am from Edo,,u see ur life for outside? I be confirm odua tokan tokan

1 Like

Re: Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner by 4koff: 12:16pm On Nov 22, 2017
belindar:
Nonsense, rubbish and liars. That is the story of nearly all Asylum seekers abroad

Stop that na you get the story. Haters
Re: Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner by 4koff: 12:17pm On Nov 22, 2017
QED. Lobatan, Kapish, Klaar
Re: Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner by Stanley777(m): 12:20pm On Nov 22, 2017
I personally know moses' house,I live two streets away from them in Benin,he's junior brother osasu is my paddy.
anything for success joor



its only money that can make your parents fake death,money

5 Likes

Re: Victor Moses: From An Asylum-Seeking Orphan To Premier League Winner by TEYA: 12:24pm On Nov 22, 2017
edo3:
Who be this bastard wey dey quote im father? And who told u am from Edo,,u see ur life for outside? I be confirm odua tokan tokan
God forbid that my father be a drug trafficker! Tufiakwa!!

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