Nigerian-born rugby star and England captain, Maro Itoje is reeling out praises over the emergence of considered one of his youthful cousins as a possible sensation at Arsenal FC, Sports247 stories.
Itoje was full of delight after getting stories in regards to the breakthrough of 17 12 months outdated Andre Harriman-Annous, who acquired his Arsenal debut of their Carabao Cup victory over Brighton.
The teenager performed 77 minutes of The Gunners’ 2-0 win at Emirates Stadium, after happening instead of Declan Rice, a lot to the delight of Itoje, whose full identify is Oghenemaro.
The Saracens rugby membership’s well-acclaimed lock, who can be reputed as a really vocal Arsenal fan, described Harriman-Annous’ debut as extremely thrilling and a continuation of the gene for achievement that runs of their household’s blood.
The teenager, who has a Nigerian mom and Ghanaian father, will clock 18 on December twenty eighth, however he’s already setting tongues wagging, and Itoje stated, “I’m very glad for him. He has labored extremely exhausting over the past 10 years.
“I bear in mind going to his home, and his older cousins had been placing him by way of his paces as a seven-year-old. I remembered pondering it was fairly intense! Everybody is actually glad and actually proud.”
The 31-year-old Itoje, who by no means shies away from his Nigerian roots, began enjoying rugby on the age of 11 and reached 100 worldwide caps on the nineteenth of July this 12 months, a landmark he believes Arsenal’s newest child on the block can equally obtain or surpass in soccer.
“I’ve handed the baton. I need him to fly. He has completed amazingly properly and lengthy might it proceed, not solely as a result of he’s my cousin but additionally as a result of I assist Arsenal. It’s a double whammy.
“By way of being an expert and the mindset and mentality to coaching and bettering and the dedication and consistency which is required, I feel all of these issues are undoubtedly relevant and transferable,” Itoje added.
He concluded by choosing a few of the attributes and traits he believes will assist the teenager develop quickly and ultimately turn into an Arsenal legend just like the London-based membership’s different Nigerian-born sensations – the long-lasting Bukayo Saka and one other fast-rising teenager, Ethan Nwaneri.
“He’s a extremely good child. With soccer particularly – and it’s the similar in rugby, with the cash at play, the eye and the highlight – it may be fairly a difficult house for a teen to navigate. However, to date, he has completed nice.
“His mum has been wonderful and is ensuring there’s an excellent crew round him,” submitted Itoje, whose all-time Arsenal hero has all the time been their former captain and battling midfielder, Patrick Vieira.
