Wilfred Ndidi defied Dad’s wishes to become footballer: Leicester news

By playing football as a child, Wilfred Ndidi defied his father’s wishes. Leicester City’s gain was apparently his school’s loss.

Thank God Wilfred Ndidi disobeyed his father and eventually ended up a pivotal player for Leicester City! To be honest the Blue Army and club are lucky because the defensive-midfielder was supposed to be studying when he was refining the exceptional sporting skill set he now regularly exhibits for the Foxes.

Back in those days in Lagos, Ndidi senior, a military man, was apparently very strict with his now famous son. Beating him on occasion for disobedience with a ‘Koboko’, a cow skin so the 23-year-old says. Allegedly leaving the youngster in pain and uncomfortable for days. That behaviour from a parent would not be acceptable here in England – and rightly so.

Though Ndidi grew in poverty, explaining to GOAL how he hawked – selling goods by shouting and exclaiming their quality Del Boy-style, typically without a licence – fruit in the market. Saying he sold anything going, seasonal or not.

Without money for school and Dad switching bases, Ndidi could now get on with honing his craft. Now he didn’t have to lie about his whereabouts – he was playing football. The Nigerian enlisted his mother’s assistance to wash kit as a rookie; until Nath Boys came calling, then Genk and afterwards followed Leicester City. A difficult but hardening path for Ndidi – a gem of a athlete.

In other Foxes news, manager Brendan Rodgers praised the team’s staff for applying protocol and safety for the squad’s return to training.