In a recent appearance on the No Holds Barred program on Brila FM, Kingsley Udoh, a former Nigerian U-17 star and national player, shared his journey and struggles.

Udoh, who played for notable clubs such as Heartland, Kano Pillars, and Sunshine Stars, was a member of Nigeria’s U-17 squad that won the 2007 World Cup under the guidance of the late coach Theophilus Yemi Tella.

Reflecting on his journey, Udoh revealed the unfortunate loss of his U-17 gold medal following his father’s death.

“My dad had my documents, including my U-17 World Cup medal, but after he passed, I couldn’t recover the medal,” Udoh said.

He explained that he was able to retain only two significant items, his Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) honor and the gold medal from the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations held in Togo.

Udoh also spoke about the impact of the U-17 tournament on his career, describing it as “inspiring” and a major stepping stone.

The late coach Tella, whom Udoh described as “straightforward, transparent, bribe-free, and a role model,” was instrumental in his rise.

“Coach Tella discovered me while I was playing friendly matches with the U-17 team,” he recalled.

He detailed how his then club, FC Ebiere (Olise Boys), initially refused to release him for the national camp. However, with support from his manager, John Olatunji Shittu, Udoh took the initiative to join the camp.

“When I got to the camp, Coach Tella immediately identified me and asked if I was the central defender at FC Ebiere. I said yes. He was happy to see me and welcomed me,” Udoh shared.

“He gave me special treatment in camp then.”