Akindele Matthew, a forward with Silence Oster, is determined to overcome the challenges of his football journey while building a future that lets him support his family and help young talent navigate the sport.
Less than six months into his tenure with Silence Oster, Matthew continues to pursue his professional ambitions, drawing on experiences that began with primary school competitions, including the Milo and Chinese Kid Corps tournaments.
His journey has not been easy, as limited parental support, pressure to pursue alternative careers, agent-abandoned opportunities, and visa denials have threatened to derail his progress.
Despite these setbacks, Matthew remains committed to his ambition, relying on discipline, hard work and faith to maintain his focus on the pitch.
“You must maintain total focus and completely refuse to let these daunting obstacles ruin your performance on the pitch,” Matthew said.
“Hard work, constant prayer, and unwavering personal discipline will always ensure that the right opportunities arrive at the perfect time.”
For Matthew, football represents more than personal achievement. He hopes to use his career to improve his family’s financial circumstances and bring pride to his country.
The forward also recognises that talent alone is insufficient to sustain a career in professional football, stressing the importance of consistency, preparation and personal discipline.
Beyond his playing days, Matthew is already considering how he can remain involved in the sport. Rather than pursuing coaching, he hopes to become a licensed football agent, talent scout or executive club manager.
His long-term ambition is partly influenced by the difficulties he has experienced, particularly the challenges young African players face when seeking international opportunities and professional representation.
Matthew hopes to use his future position to identify promising grassroots talents, guide their development and help them avoid some of the obstacles that have affected his own career.
For now, his immediate focus remains on improving his performances with Silence Oster and pursuing greater opportunities as a player.
However, his broader ambition is to build a lasting legacy in football by helping other young players access opportunities and overcome barriers to success.
