Brussels, Belgium
As Champions League don start, one man wey dey catch eye be none other than Christian Burgess, captain of Union Saint-Gilloise. This guy don dey hustle since him born but 16 September 2025, e break record as the oldest English outfield player wey ever start for Champions League. Na serious jive!
Burgess wey turn 33 years and 344 days old, no expect say him go fit play for this level, but life dey full of surprises, abi? He don travel from Arsenal youth academy to hit big time with Union, and now him dey prepare to face off with Newcastle United for make we no forget the experience.
“When I was small, I just dey watch Champions League for TV, now I dey lead team wey go face dem big boys wey I used to dey admire,” him talk as e express him joy. Na wah, see how things dey turn, face palm!
After pressing life jollof – being released by Arsenal, entering uni, and later landing at Middlesbrough during him second year like say na scatter scatter, Burgess still manage find him level. He no let the setbacks wey him face for places like Portsmouth and Peterborough stop him grind. Dis guy na real example of ‘no be where you start, na where you dey go’.
As if that one no do, him defensive partner, Ross Sykes, wey also hustle come up from Accrington Stanley, don join am for the journey. Together, dem help Union win dem first league title in 90 years. Talk about grassroots hustle, my friend! Sykes even go through the same release stress for Burnley wey dem say e dey too small before e turn tall like giant wey everyone dey fear for pitch.
On top dis Champions League matter, e no lie say Union dey face serious teams. But as dem dey prepare for fight against Newcastle on 1 October, Burgess still dey remind everyone say dem dey ready to show say underdog fit scatter ground. “We fit stand against anybody. Na confidence we get,” Burgess add with smile wey fit shine light.
The fans dey gass; dem dey look forward to the match like na dem dey go win lottery. The last match against PSV, wey dem win 3-1, don ginger dem spirits as e show wetin dem fit do when dem ready. Burgess even rack high rating as player of the match, which na no small achievement.
Who say English players no fit shine abroad? Burgess and Sykes dey show say perseverance na the key; e strong pass any other thing. As dem dey grab their chance, dem dey also schooled young players wey dey come up from small leagues like Latvian and Croatian leagues. Stella in the making!
As Sykes dey prepare to face him boyhood club, the excitement dey real. “Playing against your boyhood club in the Champions League? E be like say Naija don win jollof rice for party!” he talk with passion.
So, make we sit down dey watch how di match go unfold. Champions League na for giants, but sometimes na david go fight goliath. Union Saint-Gilloise dey ready to show dem say na hard work and determination dey lead go big things. Who know, maybe dem go surprise all of us!
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