Super Eagles Captain Musa On Starting His Career As A Goalkeeper, Journey To VVV Venlo

Nigeria captain Ahmed Musa has revealed that he started his career as a goalkeeper before he started playing outfield.

Less than eight years after Musa changed position, he set a new Nigerian record for most goals scored in a single-season when he notched up 18 goals for Kano Pillars over the course of the 2009-2010 campaign.

"When I was in primary school in Jos, I was a goalkeeper. I started as a goalkeeper, I don't even know what brought me to start playing as an outfield player," Musa said on Instagram Live.

"Yes, I enjoyed the role. In primary school I was the Games Prefect and I was one of the best goalkeepers in the primary school".

Following his exploits in the domestic championship, the Golden Boot Soccer Academy product earned a transfer to VVV Venlo in 2010, a move that had to be delayed because he was yet to attain the age of majority when he inked a pre-contract with the Dutch club.

"They saw me when I was playing in the WAFU home-based tournament in Abeokuta when Nigeria hosted and we won.

"I signed my professional contract here in Abuja but I couldn't travel because I was 17 then I had to wait until I was 18.

"When I was 18, I flew to Holland, only had two training sessions before I played my first game, it was not that easy and the weather was crazy.

"I was crying when I was playing because of the cold. One day I said to myself I can't make it and need to go back to Nigeria but we Africans have one mentality that whatever you want to do you can achieve it.

"I was saying I'm going to get deal with it and my agent told me with time I'll get used to the weather," Musa added.

Musa, 27, has represented Nigeria at two World Cups and two Africa Cup of Nations, and with four goals he is the highest scoring Nigerian in World Cup history.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel