Guangzhou's Nigerian football prodigy

At the FIFA World Cup in Russia, which ended not long ago, the Nigerian national football team was eliminated at the group stage, disappointing African fans. But in China, the 17-year-old Nigerian teenager Joshua led his own team and has experienced the glory of many championships.

Joshua is the leader of the youth football team of Dengfeng Street, a place renowned for its dense population of African businessmen.

The special team was founded in 2013 and is open to children from around the world.

Joshua talks with his teammates during a match. [Photo/Xinhua]

I transferred to this school in fourth grade, and the PE teacher, also a football coach, invited me to join the school team after he saw how fast I could run, said Joshua. He added that he started training with the teacher and it took only two months for his football skills to show significant improvement.

In middle school, he continued to attend training sessions, despite having to travel across the city due to his great passion for the sport.

"My parents want me to study hard so that I can live an easy life in the future and I am also determined to not study without playing football," he said.

Joshua fights for the ball during a match. [Photo/Xinhua]

Three years ago, Joshua and his teammates started to shine in Guangzhou's local football matches, and they have since won four championships and were the runner-ups three times for the Dengfeng Team.

The 17-year-old boy will embark on a new adventure in September, as he will leave Guangzhou and go to Nanjing for college, where he will strive to realize his dream of becoming a professional football player.

"Some people join professional leagues when they are 24 years old. I saw them, you just can't give up."

Despite leaving Guangzhou, the Nigerian boy said that he would never forget the city.

Joshua will leave Guangzhou and head to Nanjing for further education in September. [Photo/Xinhua]

"I will never forget Nigeria, Guangzhou or China. Because one is my home country and the others are where I grew up," he said.