With majority of the first team players of English Premier League side Crystal Palace away for pre season training some players from the academy have been handed the chance to train and play games for the first team.
They are getting game time with players of the senior team who didn’t make the squad for pre season training due to travel restrictions and fitness issues. So far they have played two games at their base in England.
Young Nigerian goalkepper Owen Olamidayo Goodman has kept goal in both games rising from keeping goal for 45 minutes in the 4-2 win over Ipswich Town to keeping the full 90 minutes in the 3-2 win over Gillingham.
The 18 year old who is eligible for England, Canada and Nigeria but haven’t been capped by any nation at senior level spoke about the experience of making the step up to the first team.
“Ipswich at first I was quite nervous, but once I was into the game I felt comfortable and a part of it. I got comfortable and it felt like I belonged there”, he told the official website of the club.
“Today I felt more confident, more comfortable. It was different because it was a night game compared with a noon game, so I had to prepare different and it feels different. I thought I did okay and couldn’t do much about any of the goals. I coped, I dealt with it.”
If he maintains his rise, he will no doubt spark a tug over his international future as even though he was called up by Canada, he didn’t get to play for the U20. He however revealed he is keen to play for Nigeria.
“Whoever calls me first, I will honour the invite. I will be glad to play for my country (Nigeria) if I get the opportunity I will grab it”, he said.
“My family has a good relationship with Kanu Nwankwo when he came to Canada. My mum struck up a conversation, introduced me. We talked about Nigeria and our football history. I want to be a part of this in the future”, he concluded.
