Popular Nigerian singer Kingsley Okonkwo, better known as Kcee, has opened up about his journey from aspiring football star to music sensation, revealing that his first love was football before fate led him down the path of music.
In a recent interview with podcaster Temisan Emmanuel, the “Limpopo” crooner shared how he once dreamed of becoming a professional footballer. According to Kcee, he played for Nigerian league sides Julius Berger FC and Puma FC in the 1990s, a time when he was just a teenager full of hope and talent.
“The first time I travelled out of this country was for football,” Kcee recalled. “I played for Julius Berger and Puma. My first trip to South Africa was for soccer. That was before music ever came into the picture.”
Kcee revealed that his football journey even took him to South Africa and placed him among a promising crop of young Nigerian players tipped to follow in the footsteps of Olympic gold medalists like Jay-Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu.
“Jay Jay and Kanu were a set before me,” he said. “After them, we were meant to be the next generation of Super Eagles.”
However, his dreams hit a wall due to a lack of sponsorship and support, forcing him to reconsider his path. While juggling both football and music, Kcee took a bold step by entering and eventually winning the Star Quest talent hunt, a major breakthrough that launched his music career.
“When I started making money from music, I had to choose one,” he explained. “So, I dropped football.”
Today, Kcee is a celebrated artist in the Nigerian music scene, but his journey serves as a powerful reminder that sometimes, closed doors lead to even greater opportunities.
