Many years ago, Nigeria International Anthony Nwakaeme was kicking a patched up football around the slums of Ajegunle in Lagos, Nigeria.

As a teen, Nwakaeme dreamed of making it big so he could have enough money to buy his family a home.

He made good on that promise, snapping up a house in the same area he grew up big enough for his family to live in.

But it all started for the quiet and shy boy in Ajegunle, where Nwakaeme honed his dribbling skills on their dry, bone-hard pitch.

One thing that also worked for Anthony is that he has a mentor who is also a talented football. He is Dickson Nwakaeme who is well known in Asia.

Understanding his brother's desire to play football for a living, Dickson did all he could to support his aspirations.

From Sao Paolo, he moved to Patros of Tolu and from there the forward joined Vejle Football Academy, a travelling team that helped him move to Europe. He first moved to Denmark but soon returned home. The Denmark trip was a misadventure as Vejle Kolding, the club Nwakaeme signed for, played two seasons in the Danish 1st Division before being dissolved in 2013.

Anthony Nwakaeme was in danger of becoming another young player who failed to make the grade.

It was Universitatea Cluj who signed Anthony in 2010. The Romanian club was bowled over by Anthony's speed over short distances and magic wand of a left foot. 

Which brings us full circle to Anthony Nwakaeme's pledge to give back to his family who did so much for him when he earned his first major salary. He did it with joy.

That was the beginning of great things as the forward enjoyed stints at Arieșul Turda, Petrolul Ploiești, Universitatea Cluj, Hapoel Ra'anana and Hapoel Be'er Sheva.

Now making money at Trabzonspor in Turkey, Anthony Nwakaeme's story should inspire you not to give up.

Content created and supplied by: AdemetanAbayomi (via Opera News )