Divock Origi, di former Liverpool and Belgium striker, don tok about im retirement from football for a long story wey im write for The Players’ Tribune. Di 29-year-old player wey score some of di most important goals for Liverpool history, including di winner against Barcelona for Champions League semifinal for 2019, say im don feel say im journey don complete.
Origi tok about di silence wey players feel afta match, wen all di noise from fans and celebration don finish and you dey alone for your hotel room. Im say di silence na sometin wey only players sabi well. Im remember di 2014 World Cup for Brazil, wen im score for Belgium against Russia for Maracanã stadium. Im say na God moment, and im even ask di King of Belgium to take selfie wit am.
Im tok about im upbringing, say im papa Mike Origi na former player for Genk and Kenyan national team, and how im feel pressure to carry di Origi name. But later, people begin sabi am as Divock Origi, not just Mike’s pikin. Im say im move to Liverpool for 2015, and at first e no easy, but Jurgen Klopp come and change everything. Klopp style na heavy metal football, and Origi say e dey intense but im love am.
Origi also share about im spiritual journey, how im find faith through im cousin and sports pastor. Im say dat faith help am through tough times, like wen im go on loan to Wolfsburg and di team dey fight relegation. Im say wen im come back to Liverpool, im suppose leave for Wolverhampton for £30 million, but im pray and feel say God want am to stay. Dat decision lead to di 2019 Champions League victory.
Im tok about di secret training im do for mornings before team training, just practicing finishing for small pitch. Im say dat drilling give am composure and focus. And dat lead to di goal against Barcelona for Anfield, wen Liverpool come back from 3-0 down. Origi say e dey grateful for everything, and now im retire say im want pursue fashion and entrepreneurship, including DLF football agency wit im partner.
