Ola Aina's dad scolds him for mispronouncing their name in a viral video, revealing the reluctant rise of the Nigeria Super Eagles star to Premier League fame.
Nigeria Super Eagles and Nottingham Forest fullback, Ola Aina, is no stranger to the spotlight but it turns out his own father wasn't always impressed with his star power.
In a viral Instagram video by Life of Ballers, Aina introduces himself alongside his dad, only to be hilariously corrected on how to pronounce their family name.
"You see, you don't even know how to pronounce the name," his father quips, before proudly declaring it as "Olaoluwa Aina."
What unfolds in the clip is more than just a playful jab, it's a peek into Aina's unexpected rise from a kid who didn't dream of pro football to one of the Premier League's top defenders.
A Reluctant Star in the Making
The video, originally filmed during Aina's stint at Chelsea's London academy, reveals a surprising truth: the now 28-year-old never set out to play professionally.
"What time did you ask yourself I didn't want to play the game professionally? You know, sometimes you were just playing it for fun" he said of the defender.
"To be fair, I never really wanted to play professionally," Aina admits with a laugh. "It wasn't on my mind. I said I'll be playing football for fun until under-15s."
His father chimes in, recalling how Aina's early days were more about enjoyment than ambition. "You didn't know what it means to play in an academy," he says. "We were just like, he wanted to play football, let's go."
But somewhere along the way, talent took over. "There were times you said, 'I think I might be good at this thing,'" his father recalls. That shift in mindset transformed Aina from a casual player into a standout athlete, catching the eye of scouts and eventually landing him in the Premier League.
From Fun to Fame: A Premier League Powerhouse
Fast forward to today, and Ola Aina is a marauding fullback making waves at Nottingham Forest.
Widely regarded as one of the best in the Premier League and even in the world, he's reportedly on the radar of Manchester City's legendary manager, Pep Guardiola.
It's a far cry from the teenager kicking a ball around for fun, unaware of the academy system's demands or the global stage awaiting him.
Aina's journey is a reminder of how raw talent and opportunity can collide to create something extraordinary, even when the player himself isn't chasing the dream, at least not at first.
Super Eagles Duty in Kigali
Right now, Aina is in Kigali, Rwanda, representing Nigeria's Super Eagles under new coach Eric Chelle.
With upcoming matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, Chelle is banking on stars like Aina to breathe life back into the team's 2026 World Cup qualification hopes.
These games mark Chelle's first outings since taking the helm, and all eyes are on Aina to bring his Premier League flair to the international stage.
From his father's lighthearted scolding to his rise as a global football sensation, Aina's story is one of authenticity and unexpected success.
Whether he's shutting down attackers in the Premier League or donning the green and white for Nigeria, "Olaoluwa Aina" is a name fans and his dad won't let him forget how to say.
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