Efe Ambrose didn’t even want to be a footballer.
Growing up in Kaduna, northern Nigeria, his ambition was to be an accountant. In fact, any sporting potential he had as a kid was in table-tennis or gymnastics. Playing football for a living was just a pipe dream. Yet here he is. Sitting in the boardroom at Cappielow Park in Greenock, reflecting on the highs and lows of a 17-year career in the game. Even to the man himself, it seems surreal.
He’s played at the World Cup, Olympic Games, African Cup of Nations and Confederations Cup. He was in the Celtic team that beat Barcelona in the Champions League. While winning 51 caps for his country, he took on the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Luis Suarez, Fernando Torres and Lionel Messi. Next Saturday, Ambrose will be at the Balmoral Stadium in front of 2,000 punters to play against Cove Rangers. But that’s how humble he is. It’s why he’s so popular with team-mates in every dressing-room he goes into.
