Nigeria forward Peter Olayinka is extremely proud to have rubbed shoulders with some of football finest stars in the UEFA Champions League despite a troubled start to his career in Europe.
Olayinka started his career at amateur club Baba Boss in Oyo State, South West Nigeria before linking up with Albanian club Bykis Ballsh as a 17-year-old in 2012.
He also struggled to find his feet with clubs in Northern Cyprus and Belgium before finally getting a breakthrough at Czech Republic outfit, Slavia Prague.
The 24-year-old hugged the headlines after scoring on his Champions League debut in Slavia Prague’s 1-1 away draw at Inter Milan.
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique employs the ‘best tactics’ of stopping rampaging Slavia Prague forward Olayinka at Camp Nou
He was a real threat in a 0-0 draw last month as Slavia Prague became the first side to prevent Barcelona from scoring at the Nou Camp since February 2018.
“We were denied a win at Inter in the last minute and we could’ve beaten Barcelona at the Nou Camp, so Dortmund [match] provides a big opportunity for us to end on a high, ” Olayinka told BBC Sport.
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“Six years ago I was still watching Lionel Messi, Romelu Lukaku, Gerard Pique and Axel Witsel on television in Nigeria, and it’s been incredibly surreal playing against them in the Champions League.
“My life has been full of more downs than ups to get here, but I am here now and the past only fuels my desire to keep pushing.”
Slavia have two points and will finish fourth in Group F even if they beat Borrussia Dortmund in their final Group game tonight (Tuesday).
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