Afrobeats megastar Ayo Balogun, professionally known as Wizkid, has taken a significant step in his son Zion’s sporting journey by enrolling him in the Nigel James Elite Coaching Academy, owned by the father of Chelsea’s captain, Reece James.
This development was confirmed through a heartwarming video shared by Zion’s mother and Wizkid’s longtime manager, Jada Pollock, on Friday, March 15. The footage captured the young boy receiving his official academy jersey, engaging in conversations with an academy official, and beaming with excitement as he embraced his new football environment.
Zion, dressed in a Real Madrid jersey in the video, later switched into his official academy kit, marking the beginning of what could be a promising football career. His enrollment has now put an end to previous speculations after a viral photo surfaced weeks ago, showing him and Jada P at a football training facility.
The Nigel James Elite Coaching Academy, operated by Nigel James, is well-known for grooming elite footballers. His son, Reece James, currently captains Chelsea, while his daughter, Lauren James, is a star player for the Chelsea Women’s team. The academy has built a reputation for training top-tier talents who aspire to play at professional levels.
Another widely shared image from Zion’s training day showed him attentively listening to his coach while rocking a Cristiano Ronaldo No. 7 Al-Nassr jersey and striking a pose like a professional footballer. Fans across social media have since celebrated the news, expressing admiration for Wizkid and Jada Pollock’s commitment to nurturing Zion’s passion for football.
Following the video’s release, social media users have flooded the comment sections, with many speculating about Zion’s future in professional football. Some fans have even joked about him following in the footsteps of top Nigerian footballers like Victor Osimhen and Kelechi Iheanacho.
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