Super Eagles striker says his mum stopped him from playing football

Nigerian International and West Bromwich of England striker Brown Ideye has revealed that his mum stooped him from playing football while growing up in Lagos.

Speaking to UK Daily Mail in an interview, the 26-year-old striker revealed that his mum sent him to a remote village after his father died in a bid to stop him from playing football through fears he would get caught up with criminal gangs on the streets of Lagos.

"It’s hard growing up in Lagos,’ he says. ‘There is always a story to tell in a city like that. My friends were involved in crazy stuff. They were bad boys of the area. I was picked up once by the police.

"My mum stopped me going out with them. She was upset. Each time I told her I wanted to play football she would say, 'No you’re going to be with your friends'," the former Ocean Boys striker said.

Ideye was sent to live with his aunt but eventually ran away to train with his old coach and finally told his mum he wanted to travel to Bayelsa State to play regularly.

"She didn’t accept. That’s how I left. I went to Bayelsa State then Ocean Boys," Brown Ideye said.

It was that trip to Bayelsa that however kick started his career.

After winning the Nigerian Premier League with Ocean Boys, Brown Ideye got signed by Neuchatel Xamax in Switzerland, then Sochaux in France, and Dynamo Kiev in Ukraine.

Once he had signed professional forms, Ideye patched up his relationship with his mum.

"When I got the contract in Switzerland I went back home, sat with my family and had breakfast, dinner, lunch, everyone happy.

"Afterwards she called me into her room and said, 'I’m sorry about everything, your dad is late and I am the only person who can guide you. I looked at what your friends were doing and believed if I left you that is how you’d become.' I said, 'I get that.' She started crying. She could not believe she tried to stop me becoming what she is enjoying today," Brown Ideye said.

Now in West Brom, Ideye said his mum is his number one fan.

"Each time West Brom play my mother is wearing my shirt, sitting down in front of the telly," the striker said amid laughter.

The West Brom’s £10million record buy also revealed plans to fly his mother to Wembly to watch him live if the club go all the way to the final of the FA Cup.

"In summer it’s possible, right now it’s cold for her.I want us to get to the final. If we do then I can arrange it," Brown Ideye revealed.

Sadly that won't be happening as West Brom yesterday, Saturday, March 7 lost their FA Cup Quarter-final match with Aston Villa.

Fabian Delph and Scott Sinclair score in the 2-0 defeat to send West Brom out of the FA Cup.