Fulham and Nigeria defender Calvin Bassey has revealed that he was once on the verge of abandoning his dream of becoming a professional footballer during his teenage years.
The 25-year-old center-back explained that he set himself a clear ultimatum that would ultimately determine whether he continued pursuing football.
“I remember being 15 and going into my final year, and I told myself that if I didn’t get a professional club, I would quit football. It was that simple,” Bassey said.
“I would just stop pursuing it seriously and only play for fun. Thank God I eventually got a club, because I honestly don’t know where I would be otherwise. I would have played casually with my friends, but I wouldn’t have chased a career in it anymore.”
That high-pressure year proved decisive. Bassey earned a move to Leicester City’s academy after a successful trial, marking the beginning of a career that has since taken him to Rangers, Ajax, Fulham, and the Nigeria national team.
Reflecting on the experience, Bassey said the self-imposed deadline pushed him to give everything on the pitch.
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“Looking back, that moment was good for me. It felt like a make-or-break point, so I had to give everything I had. That’s the positive side of it,” he explained.
“I would have been at peace with myself either way, because at least I promised myself that I would give it everything, and if it didn’t work out, then so be it.”
He described the current stage of his career—playing regularly in the Premier League and representing the Super Eagles—as “truly a blessing,” especially considering how close he came to walking away from the sport entirely.
