Calvin Bassey: I became a professional footballer to give my family a better life
Nigerian defender Calvin Bassey has revealed the thought of giving his family a better life was key to his push to become a professional footballer.
As a teenager Calvin Bassey went on trial at several clubs and was rejected by severally with the 23-year old particular about the turn-down at Southampton.
Aside Southampton, Bassey also tried his luck at Leyton Orient, Crystal Palace, Charlton Athletic before luck smiled on him at Leicester City.
On September 2, 2015, Bassey penned a deal with the Foxes and spent five years there before moving to Scottish Premier League club Glasgow Rangers.
” I remember when I went to Southampton. I went wherever i smelled professional football. I’ve been rejected by a lot of professional clubs,” Bassey said in a documentary on Ajax Showtime.
” I hate to say it but I feel like I wanted to play football because I knew it would give my family a better life and they would experience more happiness than life without football.”
After a successful 2021/2022 season with Glasgow Rangers, Bassey moved to Dutch Eredivise champions Ajax Amsterdam.
His first season at Ajax has not really been smooth. Bassey has been at the end of criticism for his performances, Dutch legend Rafael Van der Vaart even claimed Ajax wasted €23m on Bassey transferÂ
Results have been positive since Heitinga replaced Alfred Schreuder but Bassey has had to operate off the bench under the new manager.
The 23-year old in the latest documentary admitted he needs time to understand and adapt to the playing style at Ajax.
