December 12, 2024

Balogun Hammed via Team360 FC

16-year-old Balogun said the number of players that turned up for screening exercise in Abuja got him thinking about his chances.

Golden Eaglets and Team360 FC goalkeeper Hammed Balogun has revealed that he was nervous during his early days at the national U17 camp.

16-year-old Balogun said he was shocked at the number of talents that turned up for screening exercise in Abuja, and that got him thinking about his chances.

Hammed Balogun at the U17 trials

The goalie who finally made the cut and was part of the victorious WAFU U17 squad was speaking in a recent video published by his club Team360 media on YouTube.

“My journey to the national U17 camp was not an easy on at all,” Balogun said.

“At first when I got to camp, we were about 80 goalkeepers invited, and new goalkeepers kept coming in before we were cut to 22.

“I was a bit nervous due to the crowd. But I remembered what my coach told me when I was in Lagos, saying I shouldn’t relent, I should fight what belongs to me and also work hard as regards my goals.”

Speaking on the second fiddle role he played at the tournament, the Lagos-born believes that his time will come and that he will play at the highest level someday soon.

“Eventually I became the second choice. But I believe that in the next tournament my time will come.”

He did not hide his hopes for the future, Balogun aims to win medals with thSuper Eagles in future.

“I hope to see myself at the top, in the big teams in Europe and also I hope to win medals for my country.” He told Team360 media.

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