WHY I CONTINUE STUDYING DESPITE FOOTBALL CAREER — TAIWO AWONIYI
Read Time:2 Minute, 19 Second
By: Fasasi Hammad
Nigeria international and Coventry City striker Taiwo Awoniyi has revealed that a promise he made to his father has motivated him to continue pursuing education alongside his professional football career.
Awoniyi disclosed this in an interview with BBC Sport following his graduation from the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Business School.
The 29-year-old said the qualification was his third, having previously earned a degree in business management and another diploma.
“I’ve got a degree in business management and another diploma, so this is my third qualification,” he told BBC Sport.
The striker explained that his father, Solomon, consistently emphasised the importance of education, even as he pursued his dream of becoming a professional footballer.
“I say to people I’m a quiet dreamer. I always felt education was important. It was a promise I made to my dad that if I played football, I would keep studying.
“That is what I’ve done and I am proud of it,” he said.
Awoniyi joined Coventry City from Nottingham Forest this summer and has continued his academic pursuits while playing professional football.
He noted that the challenges and uncertainties he has experienced throughout his career have strengthened his belief in the importance of preparing for life beyond the pitch.
In May 2025, the striker suffered a serious injury after colliding with a goalpost during Nottingham Forest’s Premier League match against Leicester City. He subsequently underwent emergency treatment and was placed in a medically induced coma after sustaining a ruptured intestine.
Despite the demands of professional football, Awoniyi believes players can make time to develop other interests and acquire additional skills.
“It’s not like a 9-5 job in football. We go in and sometimes finish quite early and, although it is challenging, I think every footballer has time in the evening for something like this business school.
“Of course it demands a lot from you, so it is all about how willing you are to do it,” he said.
The Nigerian international also urged people to recognise that footballers have lives and interests beyond the sport, stressing that their identities should not be defined solely by their profession.
“I say to people there are a lot of things that are bigger than football. Yes, football is our passion but we are normal human beings as well – and maybe that’s something the world doesn’t always see,” he added.
The PFA Business School programme is structured to accommodate the schedules of professional footballers, with seminars arranged to minimise conflicts with matches and training sessions. It also allows participants to study independently at their convenience.
While Awoniyi remains focused on his football career, his latest qualification marks another milestone in an educational journey driven by a promise to his father.
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