Nigerian singer, Charles Chibueze Chukwu, popularly known as Crayon, has revealed how his football career was ruined by officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
During a recent interview with Cool FM, Crayon opened up about his early involvement in football, which was marred by the alleged corruption of NFF representatives.
He disclosed that he initially earned a spot in a national youth team back in 2015, but his position was unjustly taken by individuals who held more influence and financial resources.
The singer said he suffered disappointment and subsequent depression due to the incident, including when he failed to gain admission into the university like his peers.
Crayon said, “In 2015, I fell into depression because I couldn’t gain admission into the university like my friends did. They were all having fun at school, while I was left behind in the neighbourhood.
“It was a boring period for me. I had nothing to do and nowhere to go. Moreover, my football career wasn’t taking off either. I used to play football and was quite good at it. They nicknamed me ‘Coutinho’ in my neighbourhood, after the talented player who represented Liverpool.”
“I aspired to become a professional footballer, but it didn’t work out for me. Football in Nigeria is deeply affected by corruption. While I won’t mention any names to avoid hurting people, I can reveal that these were influential officials within the football community.”
“During a screening at the Surulere National Stadium, NFF officials deceived me and replaced me with another individual who had money and connections. That incident left me deeply disappointed and depressed.”
KanyiDaily recalls that Crayon recently revealed that he was housed by his fellow artist and labelmate, Rema for a span of two years before achieving his own fame.
