Sidos FC shot Akinkunmi Amoo’s career to the limelight by allowing him to shine as a youngster, which went further to open up his ways for the big stage.

Signed by Swedish league outfit Hammarby, the young talented footballer is already on his way to greatness thanks to Sidos FC, who provided the avenue for him to express himself.

In June 2020, the Swedish first division club Hammarby announced on its official social media platforms it has confirmed the signing of the former Nigeria U17 international.

The contract signed between the two parties is a four and half year deal which would see Amoo remain with the side until the summer of 2024.

Although the youngster was linked to several countries including France, England, Germany and Spain, where clubs were very eager to sign the promising footballer, opted for somewhere easier.

As per information gathered by Interestingfootball.com sources, clubs including AS Monaco, Arsenal, AC Milan and AFC Ajax from the Dutch Eredivisie all wanted to sign him.

Sidos FC role in the development of Akinkunmi Amoo to his current level

It wasn’t that easy though. But the coaches at Sidos saw how talented he was and decided to play him in his natural position, from the wings through to central attack.

He is a complete attacker, his prefered position to play, and the coaches decided to continue with him that way.

With the steady training he had at the club alongside his peers over there, he grew to become more confident and versatile.

His final third was very sharp and precise.

At the advanced level, he was thought how to be sharp whenever he was with the ball in the opponents half.

Additionally, he is very skilful and the most exciting part was his ability not to lose the ball easily to opposition players.

These and more were the training he had while he was at the club before the Swedish club came calling for his signature and there was a lot on his choice of the club despite the array of clubs that surrounded him at that time.

Hammarby the perfect choice for a promising winger capable of holding the ball firmly.

Despite the lucrative offers from other top teams around Europe, Sidos FC handlers decided on a move to Sweden.

But why Sweden and not England or Spain?

This question was well answered by the sporting director of the club who thought it was the best option to choose Hammarby over other clubs.

As per the club’s sporting director, the representatives from the Swedish football club had assured them of quality time on the pitch.

At least, this has been the major concern of the club who has no intentions of selling their players for the sake of money, rather wants to see them grow to the level of world-class players in the nearest future and the club had already agreed to do so with him.

Looking back at how notable past Nigerian U17 internationals ended up, it was rather glaring to see Akinkunmi Amoo end up this way.

Remember the likes of Kenneth Omeruo who was at Chelsea but never tasted Premier League action.

Taiwo Awoniyi and a host of others suffered the same fate as they only became the property of top clubs but stood elsewhere as players on loan without having the value why they decided to join the team.

Today, there’s a long list of former Nigerian youth internationals out there playing professional on loan outside their parent club which was not included during the sale of the player.

For Akinkunmi Amoo, it appears the club did what was best for him which is expected to further help his career.

The assurance was given by the club before the deal was finalized means a lot for the player’s development and his career in general.

The amount Hammarby paid Sidos FC to secure the services of Akinkunmi Amoo

The Nigerian outfit reached an agreement with the Swedish football club which was not officially disclosed to the public media.

Photo Credit – Brila.net

However, to clear our doubts, the amount paid for the player is not as big as one would think of. Rather, it was an avenue to accelerate the player’s career to the next level within a short time frame.

The most important aspect is joining a club with high value already placed on him.

How the club found him

They sent scouts and other club representatives to the clubs training ground in search of players. In the process, the scouts became impressed with his performance during the session.

Also Read: The impact of Nigerian agent Emeka Obasi on Jadon Sancho’s career

A report back home in Sweden, the board of directors at the club made no mistakes with this opportunity and had to send representatives once again, but this time was to discuss the possible sale of the player.

Rejected cool offers to settle in Sweden

There were lots of offers across some of the best clubs in European football including AC Milan and AS Monaco.

As per Sportsration, the player revealed it was too easy to play in Sweden than other destinations at this point in his career. He also added the support from the club was much.

“It’s really easy there. Hammarby have taken care of me and I have felt great support throughout,” he said

“Zlatan is an incredibly great footballer who I look up to, but above all a very nice person.

“We talked a lot when we met and he gave me advice for the future, he added.

Leicester City club Chief admission

Although as the demands across europe began, Leicester City were not particularly having the intentions of signing the red hot attacker at that time.

The foxes are currently looking at the possibility of making him a top priority in the nearest future.

For the foxes, Amoo has a bright future which needs to be accessed.

His style of play and what makes him stand out amongst his peers

He’s a versatile winger who has unique abilities and was very sharp whenever he was on the ball. His style of play, attacks from the wings and more like a wide Jadon Sancho style of play.

Before finalizing the deal to join the club, he was positioned in the attack, attacking through the wings which is more like a winger or a wide midfielder.

Moving to Hammarby, a lot is expected of him and there are high hopes he would make a difference at the club and probably take the next to somewhere bigger in Europe.

He is already compared with the likes of Messi and Jadon Sancho, who play a similar style of football.

One more unique ability he posses, he is very sharp on the ball with added skills similar to Neymar at PSG.

Amoo is a team player and a playmaker ready to make a difference and challenge for starting shirt at the club.

The club loves and care about their players and are not into any plans of selling them without having clear assurance of regular first team actions.

Some cool unique facts about Hammarby

• Based in Stockholm, the club was founded in 1915.
• AC Milan attacker Zlatan Ibrahimović owns 23.5% of the shares of the club.

• The club has won the Allsvenskan once, the county’s top tier professional football league.

Things to expect

The youngster is expected to begin his professional career at the club without having to move from teams to teams on loan. At least, his professional career would behind from there.

The 18-year old move to Hammarby is his first professional contract as a footballer.

He was a core member of the Nigeria U17 squad headed by coach Manu Garba Nigeria for the FIFA U17 World Cup 2019, held in Brazil.

The Golden Eaglets eventually crashed out of the tournament in the Round of 16.

From Sweden, there are high hopes he’ll move to bigger clubs in europe in the nearest future even though it is a very good place to start.

A new era for Sidos FC and Hammarby

The club partly owned by former Manchester United, La Galaxy and PSG star now at AC Milan Zlatan Ibrahimovic also agreed on a partnership deal which will see the two clubs meet regularly.

The Swedish club is expected to send scouts down to Nigeria regularly to see the level of players at the club and probably sign them.

The unique aspect of the new relationship between the two clubs is the direct contact made by the club’s handlers and part-owner of the club Zlatan Ibrahimovic who placed a call in a bid to convince the youngster to consider his club despite offers elsewhere.

About Sidos Football Club

Videos Football Club is a professional football club based in the Nigerian Western city of Lagos involving under-17 and adult Nigerian footballers compete in local and international tournaments.

The club plays some of its big games at the famous Agege Stadium.

The club can be contacted via its official social media platforms.