Kcee Shares How Football Setbacks Pushed Him Into Music Career
Popular Nigerian artist Kcee, whose real name is Kingsley Okonkwo, has opened up about how his dreams of becoming a professional footballer were cut short due to financial struggles. In a recent interview with podcaster Temisan Emmanuel, Kcee shared that he once played for Nigerian football clubs like Julius Berger FC and Puma FC in the 1990s before eventually turning to music.
He revealed that football was actually his first passion. His talent even took him to South Africa, and he was part of the new wave of players expected to follow in the footsteps of Nigerian football legends like Austin Jay Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu. According to him, his generation was being groomed to take over the Super Eagles after those iconic stars.
But despite his skills and dedication, Kcee said the lack of sponsorship and financial support stopped his football career from growing. This hardship made him shift focus to music — his second love — which later brought him fame and success.
“The first time I travelled out of this country was because of football,” he said. “I played for Julius Berger, I played for Puma, and I went to South Africa for soccer. That was before I ever considered music.”
He added, “I was just a teenager. After players like Jay Jay and Kanu, our set was supposed to take over. But when I saw that the journey was tough without support, I had to make a choice. I started doing music alongside football, but when I won the Star Quest talent hunt and started making money, I had to drop one.”
Kcee’s story highlights how sometimes setbacks in one path can open doors in another. His journey from the football pitch to the music stage has inspired many fans, proving that passion, hard work, and flexibility can lead to success in unexpected ways.
