Michail Antonio has shown a lack of opportunities during his teenage years and financial problems left him on the verge of quitting football.
The West Ham ahead has just embarked on his fifth season and scored 26 goals.
Antonio’s time in the English game’s maximum degree is a far cry from his humble upbringing in football in Tooting & Mitcham United, in which the pressures of life led him to question whether he was on the route pursuing a career in soccer.
“For me personally to become a professional footballer, determination was key, off and on the pitch,” he told Sky Sports during the launching of Jacamo’s new effort.
“There was just one stage in my soccer career where I thought I was not going to create it. We didn’t have much money and my father always said to me that soccer was not a true job.
“I remember going home one evening and telling my brother that I was going to give up soccer because I was 17 and had been too old. My brother said he wouldn’t let me. He got me my first pair of real boots and people that were the boots I was able to develop into professional in.”
Antonio had to overcome his fair share of challenges on it, In addition to overcoming hardship from the pitch.
A lack of exposure to academy football lengthened his wait for the chance to turn professional and left him behind his peers. He discovered obstacles blocking his dream to play at the best flight, when the chance arrived.
But, as Antonio admits, overcoming those challenges has left person and him the player he is today.
“My best advice is to keep moving, keep pushing until you reach your target,” the 29-year-old added. “Even in the event that you feel like you’ve reached your peak, then you could always be better.
“Once I’ve achieved something, I will always push myself to achieve something different. I stated I need to enter the first group, As soon as I got into the reserves. When I got into the first group, I needed to get in the Championship and then I wanted to get in the Premier League.
“It’s a constant battle, you have got to prove yourself to fresh players, new supervisors and the fans. I scored two goals and had 11 assists from the Championship and do better than players in my position, but they informed me that I wasn’t consistent enough, when I talked to Premier League managers.
“Getting consistent enough to get in the Premier League was my biggest personal challenge. I’ve kept having to pick up herself and go.
“Because I didn’t move through the academy system, I missed out on lots of the method work so I would head out first before and after instruction to get to the stage I am at.
“Now I have played for nine unique clubs, I’m in the Premier League and I’ve been called up for England.”
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