For Nigerian centre-back Franklin Tebo Uchenna, the journey from grassroots football in Nigeria to Europe has been a lesson in patience and perseverance. He was one of the finest defenders in the NPFL in the little time he spent featuring for Nasarawa United of Lafia.
Today, the Nigerian centre-back is playing for one of Serbia’s most decorated clubs, Red Star Belgrade, but his rise to European football began far away from the spotlight he now enjoys.
“To be sincere, there was really no push from the family side,” Tebo told www.aclsports.com about his football journey.
“It was my drive, determination, and will to succeed that brought me to this level. It has been God and the destiny helpers that were placed around me that have taken me this far. I am very grateful to them and God.”
Before Nasarawa United became the club through which many Nigerian football followers discovered him, Tebo had already spent time building his game at grassroots level, representing teams that received little public attention.
“I started at WACO, and I was there for like two years. We played against EFCC, and I moved to EFCC from there, where I featured for like six months before heading abroad for trials,” Tebo narrated how it all began for him.
After his return, his former coach, WACO, and a friend working with Nasarawa United helped connect him with the Lafia-based club.
“After coming back, Coach WACO and his friend, who was at Nasarawa United at the time, saw me and invited me to Nasarawa United, and that was how I joined them,” he explained.
At Nasarawa United, the defender established himself in the Nigerian top flight through his physical presence, defensive qualities and consistency. His performances during the 2020/21 season were particularly noteworthy, earning him a place in the home-based Super Eagles squad invited for the international friendly against Mexico in July 2021. He was a second-half substitute in the 4-0 drubbing at the hands of the Mexicans in Los Angeles.
Franklin left the NPFL for Sweden, where he joined BK Häcken in the summer of 2021. Between then and his move, Tebo went through Norway, where he enjoyed a highly successful spell at Sarpsborg before moving to Red Star Belgrade last year.
“The experiences I had in the NPFL made me a better person today,” Franklin disclosed about his experience in the NPFL.
“The trainings, the journeys, the process just make you stronger and prepared for this level. The process was a lesson in becoming who I am today. I am happy to have passed through the level,” he added.
His journey had taken him from grassroots football in Nigeria to the NPFL, through Sweden and Norway, and into the Serbian champions’ European campaign.
“I look forward so much to putting on the jersey again, not in a rush, enjoying the process, but it will really feel good to be there one day,” the 26-year-old Tebo said about his desire to feature for the Super Eagles again.
