I almost quit football at 15 – Calvin Bassey

Super Eagles and Ajax defender, Calvin Bassey has revealed how he almost stopped playing football as a teenager before Leicester City offered him an opportunity.

Bassey was called up to Leicester City’s academy seven years ago and he starred for the Foxes’ U18s and U23s before moving to Scottish Premiership club, Rangers on a free transfer in July 2020.

Bassey joined Dutch giants, Ajax, in this summer transfer window after spending two seasons at the Gers.

In an interview with Voetball International, Bassey narrated his foray into football and how he almost stopped playing football at the age of 15.

“Indeed that was only seven years ago, I was 15,” Bassey told Voetball International.

“It was summer and I didn’t have a professional club. During those years in London, I played for many amateur teams and played a lot of street football.

“My mother insisted that I should do my best in school, that was my future.

“I did, I followed all the lessons with interest, but once I got out of school I grabbed the ball and I was on my way.

Massey added: “When I was fifteen, I got to an age where I started to think more about my future and as much as I wanted to be a footballer, I had less and less faith in it.

“I had already resigned myself to the fact that opportunity would never come again.

“I decided to focus even more on school and to stop playing football at a club until that summer a message came from Leicester City that they had seen me playing and wanted to give me a chance.

“That took a radical turn, finally my dream of becoming a professional footballer came closer.”

Bassey will be looking to move on strongly after bagging a red card in his debut against PSV Eindhoven, and help Alfred Schreuder’s side win more titles. Ajax won the Eredivisie last season with 83 points from 34 games.

Bassey has made six appearances for the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

The youngster who was born in Italy and grew up in England made his international debut for Nigeria in a 2022 FIFA World African qualifiers playoffs first leg match against the Black Stars of Ghana which ended in a 0-0 draw in Kumasi on Friday, March 25, 2022. He was a second-half substitute for Zaidu Sanusi in the match.