WITH many pundits waxing lyrical over Ismael Feruz' rise through the Scottish domestic and international ranks spare a thought for Glasgow-born Ikechi Anya.
Relatively an unknown in his home town and country, Anya was born in Castlemilk in 1988
and was deemed to small to play for his local street-team.
and was deemed to small to play for his local street-team.After leaving Scotland at an early age, the 21-year-old striker had spells as a winger at Wycombe Wanderers, Oxford City and Halesowen Town, and in the summer of 2008 he joined the Glenn Hoddle Academy (GHA).
The GHA believes some players do not reach their potential in their youth and nurture them for a further season or so to see if they can progress at different levels.
In February 2009, Anya was snapped up by Northampton Town, but his stay was short-lived as his blistering pace and transformation from winger to pacey striker attracted attention.
He left in the summer of 2009 to join Spanish giants Sevilla on a two-year contract, albeit for their reserve side Sevilla Atlético who play Segunda División B.
Speaking positively of the GHA and his dream-move, Anya said: “When I attended the trial [at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground last June] I had nothing to lose and everything to gain.''
“I didn’t ever imagine I would end up at a club as big as this, and I can honestly say that without the Glenn Hoddle Academy I probably would be playing non-league football today.”
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Anya has since made progression and was touted to play against Rangers in the Champions League, but he never made the bench.
Although Anya is eligible for England, Romania and Nigeria, he has intentions of wanting to play for Scotland.
