“Would you believe that when he was younger, Joel was teased at school for being rubbish at football. Personally, I think that made him work even harder to prove them wrong. I think it’s safe to say he has proved a point!”
That’s Rob Parara, who oversaw the growth of a young Akpobi. Total Development Academy is situated in Thamesmead, London, and it’s where the young attacker took his first steps on the road to his standout performance away at Salford City.
That road has not been a simple one, though, and it’s featured rejection, and criticism, and sacrifice. But one thing remained - his desire to make it.
