Meet Kenneth Kerewi, The Nigerian Who Plays Football In Samoa

This article was culled from the BBC website.
In his early thirties, Kenneth Kerewi had an unfulfilled dream – to play Champions League football.

Playing semi-professionally in Nigeria and working for a local church, the intrepid Nigerian considered distance to be no barrier so travelled nearly 20,000 kilometres to get to the top of his world.

Having studied the globe for somewhere to achieve his goal, Kerewi eventually found an opening in Samoa.

“The whole thing started with my desire to play in a continental Champions League but the only place open for such a chance was the Oceania Champions League,” the 35-year-old told BBC Sport.
“Going through the clubs playing, I found Kiwi FC from Samoa as one of the participating teams. So I got in talks with the Kiwi FC president who was keen on wanting foreign players to come and play.”

The president would not pay for Kerewi’s flight – meaning the Nigerian missed Kiwi FC’s 2016 Champions League campaign but he arrived in June 2016 nonetheless, after finally sourcing some funds.

Earlier this year, Kerewi’s dreams came true – at the unheralded Loto-Tonga Soka Centre in Tonga.

It wasn’t for Kiwi FC but while on loan with Utulei Youth, a team in American Samoa whose Oceania Champions League qualifier against Lupe Ole Soaga attracted just 100 spectators.

Nonetheless, Kerewi was living the dream – scoring twice as he played the full 90 minutes.

“It was such a great feeling. I can never forget scoring on my continental Champions League debut – and not just scoring but scoring the most fantastic goal of the first stage of the OFC Champions League. I scored direct from a corner.”

He describes the South Pacific island as a “paradise” which he has no plans to leave and now he can boast Champions League football on his CV – and not just during one campaign.

For next season’s Champions League, reigning Samoan title winners Lupe Ole Soaga – the team against whom he scored – have asked him to play for them.