How social media post became a reality- Olagreat

Nigerian talent, Oladipupo Osineye,also known as Olagreat recently got a trial opportunity with Laliga side, Sevilla, he shares in this interview with David Bolarinwa how the post became his reality….

Tell us a little about yourself, your name and where you are from  

I’m Oladipupo Ayotunde Osineye, I was born in Somolu, Lagos State and grew up mostly in Alagbado, Lagos State.

How did your love for football begin, and who were your biggest influences growing up?  

I’ve been playing football all my life and my dad was my biggest influence as he was the one who ignited the passion for football when he took me to watch a game in a stadium, then he put me on to Zinedine Zidane and he became my football idol ever since then.

Did you pursue formal education alongside football? If so, how did you balance both?  

My mum made sure I had formal education and doing that alongside football was really tasking but with the help of like-minded ballers we were able to manage our time well and also represent the school to the best of our abilities.

If you weren’t playing football, what other career path would you have considered?  

If I weren’t playing football, it would have been in football administration

What inspired you to ask Sevilla FC’s admin, “How many retweets for a trial?”

Two things; God and the innate desire to be a professional footballer, I asked and fate made it possible. I had a run-in with the admin of Cádiz for 25 days but I got no response and I just picked Sevilla and they responded.

How did you feel when Nigerians turned up in large numbers to support your request?  

It’s one of the greatest feelings knowing you have the support of a nation and a continent at large, seeing it happen in real time was a very surreal experience for me.

Can you describe the moment you found out Sevilla had actually offered you a trial?  

I was on my way back home from a friendly match when a friend of mine that we just finished playing together called me to ask if I had seen what’s happening and I said NO, he just told me to check my X timeline. I usually don’t use my phone till I get home after matches so I decided to check and I saw Sevilla has already tagged my handle saying I’m being expected in Seville, I couldn’t believe it happened, I’m eternally grateful to God and everyone involved in making that offer a reality.

What are your expectations from the trial, and how are you preparing for it?  

Since I got the offer, I’ve been doing what I’ve always done;  training consistently and playing matches only difference is there’s a new inspiration and more zealousness involved.

Do you feel any pressure to perform, knowing how many people are rooting for you?  

Pressure is a normal thing in sports and it’s normal to feel it but knowing there’s a lot of people supporting you to do something great is one reason I always give my all when I step on the pitch.

Has Sevilla given you any formal contact yet?

They’ve given a video confirmation on their official account just waiting for official documentation.

How would you feel joining the likes of Chidera Ejuke, Akor Adams in Sevilla colours?

I’ll definitely be elated joining such an elite company, it’s also a delight learning from their wealth of experience.

What does playing elite football mean to you, and where do you see yourself in five years?  

Playing elite football has always been the ultimate goal and having a chance to achieve that means the world to me. In five years I see myself playing professional football in La Liga.

If the trial doesn’t go as planned, do you have a backup plan for your football career?  

Football is still the backup plan.

Finally, what message do you have for young Nigerian footballers hoping for similar opportunities?

My number one advice is always remain with God, he is the only one that guides and orders our steps as humans. 

That being said faith without work is dead, so they should be prepared to work hard.

Lastly, never shy away from putting yourself out there. No matter what it is that you put out as long as it showcases your talent, people are always watching and soon enough it will be recognized and also never have self doubt, it ruins your confidence and in turn makes you remain average.