Colchester Utd GK open to representing Nigeria; cites Leicester, Man Utd icons as role models

Published: December 05, 2021

Teenage Colchester United goalkeeper Endurance Johnson is open to representing Nigeria's national teams.

The 18-year-old would be coming with good credentials if invited to the Flying Eagles set-up having starred for the U18 and U23 teams of Colchester United in the current campaign.

Several dual-eligible players - the likes of Fikayo Tomori, Tammy Abraham, Bukayo Saka, Dele Alli and Ross Barkley - have opted to represent England internationally over Nigeria, but Johnson is not toeing the line.

Some players with dual nationality pledged their futures to Nigeria only because they failed to get call-ups to the senior national teams of European nations.

"I want to be different. Everyone here wants to represent England but me, " Johnson explained to allnigeriasoccer.com.

"My parents and grandparents being Nigerian, I feel like I will be doing them proud by representing Nigeria.

"Furthermore I enjoy the culture a lot and see Nigeria as my second home so why not".

Quizzed on the goalkeepers past and present he tries to model his game after, Johnson went for legendary Manchester United glovesman Edwin van der Sar and Leicester City icon Kasper Schmeichel.

"When I was younger I used to watch Van der Sar. My dad is a massive Manchester United fan and at the time he used to always put their matches on television, and I just used to love watching him pull off the saves and that's what me made want to become a goalkeeper.

"I wasn't the best technically but I was very good at catching the ball and was powerful and naturally had good springs.

"I was about eleven when I realized that and since then I have been playing as a goalkeeper. "

Johnson added : "I watch quite a few goalkeepers but I tend to look at Kasper Schmeichel, he can do a bit of everything really but what stands out is his shot-stopping ability and I feel I have the same characteristics.

"I do also look into Ederson a bit as well because of his passing ability and I feel being able to distribute the way he does will be an incredible skill to have now and in the future as my career progresses".

Johnson, who started playing football at the age of five, is in the second year of his scholarship at Colchester United.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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