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Michail Antonio reveals he almost quit football as a teenager

Michail Antonio has shown problems and a lack of chances during his years abandoned him on the verge of quitting football.
The West Ham scored 26 goals for the Hammers and forward has just embarked on his fifth season in the Premier League, during that time he’s amassed 112 appearances.
Antonio’s time in the maximum degree of the English game is a far cry from his humble upbringing in football in Tooting & Mitcham United, where the stresses of existence led him to question if he was on the path.
“For me personally to become a professional footballer, decision was key, on and off the pitch,” he told Sky Sports through the launch of Jacamo’s new effort.
“There was only one stage in my soccer career where I believed I wasn’t going to create it. We didn’t have a lot of money and my dad said that soccer was not a true job.
“I remember going home one day and telling my brother that I was going to quit football since I was 17 and was too old. My brother said he wouldn’t let me. He got me my very first pair of real boots and those that were the boots I was able to develop into professional ”
Antonio needed to conquer his own fair share of challenges on it, as well as overcoming hardship off the pitch.
A deficiency of exposure to academy football lengthened his wait for the opportunity to turn pro and left him behind his peers technically. He found barriers obstructing his dream when the chance finally came.
But, as Antonio admits, beating those challenges has left him the player and person he is now.
“My very best advice is to keep going, keep pushing until you reach your goal,” the 29-year-old added. “Even in case you feel as though you’ve reached your peak, you could always be improved.
“Once I’ve achieved something, I will always push myself to achieve something different. I said I want to get into the group, when I got into the reservations. When I got to the group, I wanted to get into the Championship and then I needed to get into the Premier League.
“It’s a constant battle, you’ve got to show yourself to new players, both new supervisors and the lovers. I scored two goals and had 11 assists in the Championship and do better than players in my position, but they told me I was not consistent when I talked to Premier League managers.
“Getting consistent enough to get in the Premier League was my biggest challenge. I have kept having to pick up myself and go.
“Because I didn’t go through the academy system, I missed out on lots of the technique work so I would head out before and after instruction to get to the point I’m at.
“Now I have played for nine distinct clubs, I’m at the Premier League and I’ve been called up to England.”
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