USA Africa Dialogue Series - Victor Moses: Nigerian international winger, Exclusive Report

Very few football success stories will be quite as heartening as that of Victor Moses. The youngster's rise into a professional footballer is befitting of a Hollywood script. Footballers often face ups and downs in their careers, but Moses' football story was a tragedy even before he graced a football field.

Profile

Victor Moses was born in Lagos, Nigeria but grew up in the city of Kaduna. His father, Austin, was a Christian pastor and had his own church. The Northern city of Kaduna was plagued with religious and communcal violence; Austin Moses was a prominent figure of the community and an obvious target for the opposition. When Victor was just 11, he received the life-changing news that his parents'home was torched, it's inhabitants- burnt alive. That would be the turning point in young Victor Moses' life. He, like thousands of others, was classified as an asylum-seeker and placed in a foster home. Soon after, while coming to terms with his saddening loss, he started playing football in the  Tandridge Sunday League. It was then that Crystal Palace scouts spotted him, got him his permit and altered his legal status of an asylum seeker, admitting him into the Whitghit school to continue his academic and football education. Then Crystal Palace manager, Neil Warnock, would have an incredible influence on Victor's career. Read More