Super Eagles winger Moses Simon has opened up on the hardships he endured before becoming a professional footballer

He revealed that he survived on garri and water for months while chasing his dream.

Simon, who currently plays for French side Paris FC, made the disclosure in an interview with Urban Well Sports published on Thursday, saying he endured hunger, unpaid trials and uncertainty before eventually earning his breakthrough.

Recounting his time as a trialist at Rangers, the 29-year-old said he spent almost three months without a contract or salary, surviving on whatever little food he could afford.

“I stayed at Rangers for almost three months with no salary. Nobody knew how we survived at night. I wasn’t living in camp.

“I ate once a day, in the afternoon. In the mornings I’d take garri and water, and at night, garri and water again, for months.

“They kept saying, ‘We’ll pay your salary, don’t worry.’ But they didn’t pay me because I wasn’t signed. I was one of the trialists they were screening,” he said.

Despite the harsh conditions, Simon said he continued giving his best in training, believing his performances would eventually earn him a contract.

“I actually became like the captain of that group of trialists. Even the supporters would come and ask, ‘Where’s that small one at Rangers?’

“Every day they’d drop 20 or 30 players, new ones would come, get dropped, and I was still there. My performance never got me dropped because I was consistent every single day,” he said.

The Super Eagles forward said his struggles were not limited to football, revealing that he engaged in menial jobs to survive while pursuing his career.

“I made a lot of sacrifices. I don’t even know which one hurts the most. I was a farmer while playing football. I sold tomatoes for a living, sold fish too.

“This is probably the first time anyone is hearing this. I farmed here in Kaduna, carried produce on my head, all while still going to school and playing football.”

Simon said the difficult experiences shaped his outlook on life and inspired his determination to support young footballers facing similar challenges.

“It’s part of why I want to help young people. If anyone wants to help, it’s a choice. I suffered a lot back then, and it’s part of why I don’t want other young people to go through the same thing,” he said.

He added, “I only have a few close people helping me. I don’t need government help for myself, but they can help the people. Helping young boys and girls off the streets will go a long way.”

The winger, who has represented Nigeria at multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, said his journey proves that perseverance can overcome even the toughest setbacks.

“I’ve been through rejection, hunger and disappointment. But I never stopped believing. That’s why whenever I see young players today, I tell them to keep pushing because when your time comes, nobody can stop you.” (The PUNCH)

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