Super Eagles winger Moses Simon has revealed that his father wanted him to pursue a military career and warned that he would have to enlist if his football ambitions did not materialise.Simon disclosed this in an interview with Urban Well Sports published on Thursday while reflecting on the difficult road that eventually led him to become one of Nigeria’s longest-serving internationals.The Paris FC forward said his father, a retired soldier, believed discipline and self-reliance were non-negotiable and made it clear that remaining idle at home was never an option.“My father said I’d have to join the military if I didn’t make it in football.“He said a son who refuses to leave home is no son of a soldier. Soldiers don’t stay home,” Simon recalled.He said the ultimatum became a source of motivation during periods of rejection, including failed trials with several Nigerian clubs and a collapsed move to Ajax.Despite the setbacks, he said he remained determined to succeed and eventually got his breakthrough after Dutch coach Tonnie Bruins Slot, popularly known as Coach Bors, travelled to Kaduna to recruit him.The winger recalled that the coach handed him ₦200,000 before he had even signed a contract, an amount he described as life-changing.“The money he gave me was ₦200,000, plus ₦40,000 for transport. This was 2013, and it was worth much more then.“I remember thinking, this man really means business. My father’s house cost ₦150,000, and here someone was handing me more than that,” he said.Related NewsAlgeria eye Belhocine as Chelle alternativeBadminton: Japan donates equipment to boost Nigeria’s grassrootsLawal tackles Mikel over Nigerian football criticismSimon said he returned home immediately to seek his father’s blessing before travelling abroad.“I took the money home and told my father what they had given me, though I didn’t mention the extra ₦40,000.“He wasn’t home at the time because he was still working even after retirement, earning about ₦5,000 a month. Here was his son with ₦200,000,” he said.The 29-year-old said he could hardly sleep that night because he was overwhelmed by the amount of money.“That night, I couldn’t sleep. I kept the money under my pillow until morning.“When my father came home and I told him everything, he said the money was mine to decide what to do with. But since I was travelling, we should keep some aside in case anything happened and I needed to come back home,” he said.Reflecting on his father’s stance years later, Simon said the retired soldier now enjoys a far less stressful life than he does.“I think he’s better off than me now.“He has no stress, no pressure. I think I carry more responsibility than he does now,” he said with a laugh.Simon said his journey from the Kaduna barracks to professional football in Europe taught him that perseverance and discipline eventually pay off despite repeated setbacks. Simon disclosed this in an interview with Urban Well Sports published on Thursday while reflecting on the difficult road that eventually led him to become one of Nigeria’s longest-serving internationals.The Paris FC forward said his father, a retired soldier, believed discipline and self-reliance were non-negotiable and made it clear that remaining idle at home was never an option.“My father said I’d have to join the military if I didn’t make it in football.“He said a son who refuses to leave home is no son of a soldier. Soldiers don’t stay home,” Simon recalled.He said the ultimatum became a source of motivation during periods of rejection, including failed trials with several Nigerian clubs and a collapsed move to Ajax.Despite the setbacks, he said he remained determined to succeed and eventually got his breakthrough after Dutch coach Tonnie Bruins Slot, popularly known as Coach Bors, travelled to Kaduna to recruit him.The winger recalled that the coach handed him ₦200,000 before he had even signed a contract, an amount he described as life-changing.“The money he gave me was ₦200,000, plus ₦40,000 for transport. This was 2013, and it was worth much more then.“I remember thinking, this man really means business. My father’s house cost ₦150,000, and here someone was handing me more than that,” he said.Related NewsAlgeria eye Belhocine as Chelle alternativeBadminton: Japan donates equipment to boost Nigeria’s grassrootsLawal tackles Mikel over Nigerian football criticismSimon said he returned home immediately to seek his father’s blessing before travelling abroad.“I took the money home and told my father what they had given me, though I didn’t mention the extra ₦40,000.“He wasn’t home at the time because he was still working even after retirement, earning about ₦5,000 a month. Here was his son with ₦200,000,” he said.The 29-year-old said he could hardly sleep that night because he was overwhelmed by the amount of money.“That night, I couldn’t sleep. I kept the money under my pillow until morning.“When my father came home and I told him everything, he said the money was mine to decide what to do with. But since I was travelling, we should keep some aside in case anything happened and I needed to come back home,” he said.Reflecting on his father’s stance years later, Simon said the retired soldier now enjoys a far less stressful life than he does.“I think he’s better off than me now.“He has no stress, no pressure. I think I carry more responsibility than he does now,” he said with a laugh.Simon said his journey from the Kaduna barracks to professional football in Europe taught him that perseverance and discipline eventually pay off despite repeated setbacks. The Paris FC forward said his father, a retired soldier, believed discipline and self-reliance were non-negotiable and made it clear that remaining idle at home was never an option.“My father said I’d have to join the military if I didn’t make it in football.“He said a son who refuses to leave home is no son of a soldier. Soldiers don’t stay home,” Simon recalled.He said the ultimatum became a source of motivation during periods of rejection, including failed trials with several Nigerian clubs and a collapsed move to Ajax.Despite the setbacks, he said he remained determined to succeed and eventually got his breakthrough after Dutch coach Tonnie Bruins Slot, popularly known as Coach Bors, travelled to Kaduna to recruit him.The winger recalled that the coach handed him ₦200,000 before he had even signed a contract, an amount he described as life-changing.“The money he gave me was ₦200,000, plus ₦40,000 for transport. This was 2013, and it was worth much more then.“I remember thinking, this man really means business. My father’s house cost ₦150,000, and here someone was handing me more than that,” he said.Related NewsAlgeria eye Belhocine as Chelle alternativeBadminton: Japan donates equipment to boost Nigeria’s grassrootsLawal tackles Mikel over Nigerian football criticismSimon said he returned home immediately to seek his father’s blessing before travelling abroad.“I took the money home and told my father what they had given me, though I didn’t mention the extra ₦40,000.“He wasn’t home at the time because he was still working even after retirement, earning about ₦5,000 a month. Here was his son with ₦200,000,” he said.The 29-year-old said he could hardly sleep that night because he was overwhelmed by the amount of money.“That night, I couldn’t sleep. I kept the money under my pillow until morning.“When my father came home and I told him everything, he said the money was mine to decide what to do with. But since I was travelling, we should keep some aside in case anything happened and I needed to come back home,” he said.Reflecting on his father’s stance years later, Simon said the retired soldier now enjoys a far less stressful life than he does.“I think he’s better off than me now.“He has no stress, no pressure. I think I carry more responsibility than he does now,” he said with a laugh.Simon said his journey from the Kaduna barracks to professional football in Europe taught him that perseverance and discipline eventually pay off despite repeated setbacks. “My father said I’d have to join the military if I didn’t make it in football.“He said a son who refuses to leave home is no son of a soldier. Soldiers don’t stay home,” Simon recalled.He said the ultimatum became a source of motivation during periods of rejection, including failed trials with several Nigerian clubs and a collapsed move to Ajax.Despite the setbacks, he said he remained determined to succeed and eventually got his breakthrough after Dutch coach Tonnie Bruins Slot, popularly known as Coach Bors, travelled to Kaduna to recruit him.The winger recalled that the coach handed him ₦200,000 before he had even signed a contract, an amount he described as life-changing.“The money he gave me was ₦200,000, plus ₦40,000 for transport. This was 2013, and it was worth much more then.“I remember thinking, this man really means business. My father’s house cost ₦150,000, and here someone was handing me more than that,” he said.Related NewsAlgeria eye Belhocine as Chelle alternativeBadminton: Japan donates equipment to boost Nigeria’s grassrootsLawal tackles Mikel over Nigerian football criticismSimon said he returned home immediately to seek his father’s blessing before travelling abroad.“I took the money home and told my father what they had given me, though I didn’t mention the extra ₦40,000.“He wasn’t home at the time because he was still working even after retirement, earning about ₦5,000 a month. Here was his son with ₦200,000,” he said.The 29-year-old said he could hardly sleep that night because he was overwhelmed by the amount of money.“That night, I couldn’t sleep. I kept the money under my pillow until morning.“When my father came home and I told him everything, he said the money was mine to decide what to do with. But since I was travelling, we should keep some aside in case anything happened and I needed to come back home,” he said.Reflecting on his father’s stance years later, Simon said the retired soldier now enjoys a far less stressful life than he does.“I think he’s better off than me now.“He has no stress, no pressure. I think I carry more responsibility than he does now,” he said with a laugh.Simon said his journey from the Kaduna barracks to professional football in Europe taught him that perseverance and discipline eventually pay off despite repeated setbacks. “He said a son who refuses to leave home is no son of a soldier. Soldiers don’t stay home,” Simon recalled.He said the ultimatum became a source of motivation during periods of rejection, including failed trials with several Nigerian clubs and a collapsed move to Ajax.Despite the setbacks, he said he remained determined to succeed and eventually got his breakthrough after Dutch coach Tonnie Bruins Slot, popularly known as Coach Bors, travelled to Kaduna to recruit him.The winger recalled that the coach handed him ₦200,000 before he had even signed a contract, an amount he described as life-changing.“The money he gave me was ₦200,000, plus ₦40,000 for transport. This was 2013, and it was worth much more then.“I remember thinking, this man really means business. My father’s house cost ₦150,000, and here someone was handing me more than that,” he said.Related NewsAlgeria eye Belhocine as Chelle alternativeBadminton: Japan donates equipment to boost Nigeria’s grassrootsLawal tackles Mikel over Nigerian football criticismSimon said he returned home immediately to seek his father’s blessing before travelling abroad.“I took the money home and told my father what they had given me, though I didn’t mention the extra ₦40,000.“He wasn’t home at the time because he was still working even after retirement, earning about ₦5,000 a month. Here was his son with ₦200,000,” he said.The 29-year-old said he could hardly sleep that night because he was overwhelmed by the amount of money.“That night, I couldn’t sleep. I kept the money under my pillow until morning.“When my father came home and I told him everything, he said the money was mine to decide what to do with. But since I was travelling, we should keep some aside in case anything happened and I needed to come back home,” he said.Reflecting on his father’s stance years later, Simon said the retired soldier now enjoys a far less stressful life than he does.“I think he’s better off than me now.“He has no stress, no pressure. I think I carry more responsibility than he does now,” he said with a laugh.Simon said his journey from the Kaduna barracks to professional football in Europe taught him that perseverance and discipline eventually pay off despite repeated setbacks. He said the ultimatum became a source of motivation during periods of rejection, including failed trials with several Nigerian clubs and a collapsed move to Ajax.Despite the setbacks, he said he remained determined to succeed and eventually got his breakthrough after Dutch coach Tonnie Bruins Slot, popularly known as Coach Bors, travelled to Kaduna to recruit him.The winger recalled that the coach handed him ₦200,000 before he had even signed a contract, an amount he described as life-changing.“The money he gave me was ₦200,000, plus ₦40,000 for transport. This was 2013, and it was worth much more then.“I remember thinking, this man really means business. My father’s house cost ₦150,000, and here someone was handing me more than that,” he said.Related NewsAlgeria eye Belhocine as Chelle alternativeBadminton: Japan donates equipment to boost Nigeria’s grassrootsLawal tackles Mikel over Nigerian football criticismSimon said he returned home immediately to seek his father’s blessing before travelling abroad.“I took the money home and told my father what they had given me, though I didn’t mention the extra ₦40,000.“He wasn’t home at the time because he was still working even after retirement, earning about ₦5,000 a month. Here was his son with ₦200,000,” he said.The 29-year-old said he could hardly sleep that night because he was overwhelmed by the amount of money.“That night, I couldn’t sleep. I kept the money under my pillow until morning.“When my father came home and I told him everything, he said the money was mine to decide what to do with. But since I was travelling, we should keep some aside in case anything happened and I needed to come back home,” he said.Reflecting on his father’s stance years later, Simon said the retired soldier now enjoys a far less stressful life than he does.“I think he’s better off than me now.“He has no stress, no pressure. I think I carry more responsibility than he does now,” he said with a laugh.Simon said his journey from the Kaduna barracks to professional football in Europe taught him that perseverance and discipline eventually pay off despite repeated setbacks. Despite the setbacks, he said he remained determined to succeed and eventually got his breakthrough after Dutch coach Tonnie Bruins Slot, popularly known as Coach Bors, travelled to Kaduna to recruit him.The winger recalled that the coach handed him ₦200,000 before he had even signed a contract, an amount he described as life-changing.“The money he gave me was ₦200,000, plus ₦40,000 for transport. This was 2013, and it was worth much more then.“I remember thinking, this man really means business. My father’s house cost ₦150,000, and here someone was handing me more than that,” he said.Related NewsAlgeria eye Belhocine as Chelle alternativeBadminton: Japan donates equipment to boost Nigeria’s grassrootsLawal tackles Mikel over Nigerian football criticismSimon said he returned home immediately to seek his father’s blessing before travelling abroad.“I took the money home and told my father what they had given me, though I didn’t mention the extra ₦40,000.“He wasn’t home at the time because he was still working even after retirement, earning about ₦5,000 a month. Here was his son with ₦200,000,” he said.The 29-year-old said he could hardly sleep that night because he was overwhelmed by the amount of money.“That night, I couldn’t sleep. I kept the money under my pillow until morning.“When my father came home and I told him everything, he said the money was mine to decide what to do with. But since I was travelling, we should keep some aside in case anything happened and I needed to come back home,” he said.Reflecting on his father’s stance years later, Simon said the retired soldier now enjoys a far less stressful life than he does.“I think he’s better off than me now.“He has no stress, no pressure. I think I carry more responsibility than he does now,” he said with a laugh.Simon said his journey from the Kaduna barracks to professional football in Europe taught him that perseverance and discipline eventually pay off despite repeated setbacks. The winger recalled that the coach handed him ₦200,000 before he had even signed a contract, an amount he described as life-changing.“The money he gave me was ₦200,000, plus ₦40,000 for transport. This was 2013, and it was worth much more then.“I remember thinking, this man really means business. My father’s house cost ₦150,000, and here someone was handing me more than that,” he said.Related NewsAlgeria eye Belhocine as Chelle alternativeBadminton: Japan donates equipment to boost Nigeria’s grassrootsLawal tackles Mikel over Nigerian football criticismSimon said he returned home immediately to seek his father’s blessing before travelling abroad.“I took the money home and told my father what they had given me, though I didn’t mention the extra ₦40,000.“He wasn’t home at the time because he was still working even after retirement, earning about ₦5,000 a month. Here was his son with ₦200,000,” he said.The 29-year-old said he could hardly sleep that night because he was overwhelmed by the amount of money.“That night, I couldn’t sleep. I kept the money under my pillow until morning.“When my father came home and I told him everything, he said the money was mine to decide what to do with. But since I was travelling, we should keep some aside in case anything happened and I needed to come back home,” he said.Reflecting on his father’s stance years later, Simon said the retired soldier now enjoys a far less stressful life than he does.“I think he’s better off than me now.“He has no stress, no pressure. I think I carry more responsibility than he does now,” he said with a laugh.Simon said his journey from the Kaduna barracks to professional football in Europe taught him that perseverance and discipline eventually pay off despite repeated setbacks. “The money he gave me was ₦200,000, plus ₦40,000 for transport. This was 2013, and it was worth much more then.“I remember thinking, this man really means business. My father’s house cost ₦150,000, and here someone was handing me more than that,” he said.Related NewsAlgeria eye Belhocine as Chelle alternativeBadminton: Japan donates equipment to boost Nigeria’s grassrootsLawal tackles Mikel over Nigerian football criticismSimon said he returned home immediately to seek his father’s blessing before travelling abroad.“I took the money home and told my father what they had given me, though I didn’t mention the extra ₦40,000.“He wasn’t home at the time because he was still working even after retirement, earning about ₦5,000 a month. Here was his son with ₦200,000,” he said.The 29-year-old said he could hardly sleep that night because he was overwhelmed by the amount of money.“That night, I couldn’t sleep. I kept the money under my pillow until morning.“When my father came home and I told him everything, he said the money was mine to decide what to do with. But since I was travelling, we should keep some aside in case anything happened and I needed to come back home,” he said.Reflecting on his father’s stance years later, Simon said the retired soldier now enjoys a far less stressful life than he does.“I think he’s better off than me now.“He has no stress, no pressure. I think I carry more responsibility than he does now,” he said with a laugh.Simon said his journey from the Kaduna barracks to professional football in Europe taught him that perseverance and discipline eventually pay off despite repeated setbacks. “I remember thinking, this man really means business. My father’s house cost ₦150,000, and here someone was handing me more than that,” he said.Related NewsAlgeria eye Belhocine as Chelle alternativeBadminton: Japan donates equipment to boost Nigeria’s grassrootsLawal tackles Mikel over Nigerian football criticismSimon said he returned home immediately to seek his father’s blessing before travelling abroad.“I took the money home and told my father what they had given me, though I didn’t mention the extra ₦40,000.“He wasn’t home at the time because he was still working even after retirement, earning about ₦5,000 a month. Here was his son with ₦200,000,” he said.The 29-year-old said he could hardly sleep that night because he was overwhelmed by the amount of money.“That night, I couldn’t sleep. I kept the money under my pillow until morning.“When my father came home and I told him everything, he said the money was mine to decide what to do with. But since I was travelling, we should keep some aside in case anything happened and I needed to come back home,” he said.Reflecting on his father’s stance years later, Simon said the retired soldier now enjoys a far less stressful life than he does.“I think he’s better off than me now.“He has no stress, no pressure. I think I carry more responsibility than he does now,” he said with a laugh.Simon said his journey from the Kaduna barracks to professional football in Europe taught him that perseverance and discipline eventually pay off despite repeated setbacks. Simon said he returned home immediately to seek his father’s blessing before travelling abroad.“I took the money home and told my father what they had given me, though I didn’t mention the extra ₦40,000.“He wasn’t home at the time because he was still working even after retirement, earning about ₦5,000 a month. Here was his son with ₦200,000,” he said.The 29-year-old said he could hardly sleep that night because he was overwhelmed by the amount of money.“That night, I couldn’t sleep. I kept the money under my pillow until morning.“When my father came home and I told him everything, he said the money was mine to decide what to do with. But since I was travelling, we should keep some aside in case anything happened and I needed to come back home,” he said.Reflecting on his father’s stance years later, Simon said the retired soldier now enjoys a far less stressful life than he does.“I think he’s better off than me now.“He has no stress, no pressure. I think I carry more responsibility than he does now,” he said with a laugh.Simon said his journey from the Kaduna barracks to professional football in Europe taught him that perseverance and discipline eventually pay off despite repeated setbacks. “I took the money home and told my father what they had given me, though I didn’t mention the extra ₦40,000.“He wasn’t home at the time because he was still working even after retirement, earning about ₦5,000 a month. Here was his son with ₦200,000,” he said.The 29-year-old said he could hardly sleep that night because he was overwhelmed by the amount of money.“That night, I couldn’t sleep. I kept the money under my pillow until morning.“When my father came home and I told him everything, he said the money was mine to decide what to do with. But since I was travelling, we should keep some aside in case anything happened and I needed to come back home,” he said.Reflecting on his father’s stance years later, Simon said the retired soldier now enjoys a far less stressful life than he does.“I think he’s better off than me now.“He has no stress, no pressure. I think I carry more responsibility than he does now,” he said with a laugh.Simon said his journey from the Kaduna barracks to professional football in Europe taught him that perseverance and discipline eventually pay off despite repeated setbacks. “He wasn’t home at the time because he was still working even after retirement, earning about ₦5,000 a month. Here was his son with ₦200,000,” he said.The 29-year-old said he could hardly sleep that night because he was overwhelmed by the amount of money.“That night, I couldn’t sleep. I kept the money under my pillow until morning.“When my father came home and I told him everything, he said the money was mine to decide what to do with. But since I was travelling, we should keep some aside in case anything happened and I needed to come back home,” he said.Reflecting on his father’s stance years later, Simon said the retired soldier now enjoys a far less stressful life than he does.“I think he’s better off than me now.“He has no stress, no pressure. I think I carry more responsibility than he does now,” he said with a laugh.Simon said his journey from the Kaduna barracks to professional football in Europe taught him that perseverance and discipline eventually pay off despite repeated setbacks. The 29-year-old said he could hardly sleep that night because he was overwhelmed by the amount of money.“That night, I couldn’t sleep. I kept the money under my pillow until morning.“When my father came home and I told him everything, he said the money was mine to decide what to do with. But since I was travelling, we should keep some aside in case anything happened and I needed to come back home,” he said.Reflecting on his father’s stance years later, Simon said the retired soldier now enjoys a far less stressful life than he does.“I think he’s better off than me now.“He has no stress, no pressure. I think I carry more responsibility than he does now,” he said with a laugh.Simon said his journey from the Kaduna barracks to professional football in Europe taught him that perseverance and discipline eventually pay off despite repeated setbacks. “That night, I couldn’t sleep. I kept the money under my pillow until morning.“When my father came home and I told him everything, he said the money was mine to decide what to do with. But since I was travelling, we should keep some aside in case anything happened and I needed to come back home,” he said.Reflecting on his father’s stance years later, Simon said the retired soldier now enjoys a far less stressful life than he does.“I think he’s better off than me now.“He has no stress, no pressure. I think I carry more responsibility than he does now,” he said with a laugh.Simon said his journey from the Kaduna barracks to professional football in Europe taught him that perseverance and discipline eventually pay off despite repeated setbacks. “When my father came home and I told him everything, he said the money was mine to decide what to do with. But since I was travelling, we should keep some aside in case anything happened and I needed to come back home,” he said.Reflecting on his father’s stance years later, Simon said the retired soldier now enjoys a far less stressful life than he does.“I think he’s better off than me now.“He has no stress, no pressure. I think I carry more responsibility than he does now,” he said with a laugh.Simon said his journey from the Kaduna barracks to professional football in Europe taught him that perseverance and discipline eventually pay off despite repeated setbacks. Reflecting on his father’s stance years later, Simon said the retired soldier now enjoys a far less stressful life than he does.“I think he’s better off than me now.“He has no stress, no pressure. I think I carry more responsibility than he does now,” he said with a laugh.Simon said his journey from the Kaduna barracks to professional football in Europe taught him that perseverance and discipline eventually pay off despite repeated setbacks. “I think he’s better off than me now.“He has no stress, no pressure. I think I carry more responsibility than he does now,” he said with a laugh.Simon said his journey from the Kaduna barracks to professional football in Europe taught him that perseverance and discipline eventually pay off despite repeated setbacks. “He has no stress, no pressure. I think I carry more responsibility than he does now,” he said with a laugh.Simon said his journey from the Kaduna barracks to professional football in Europe taught him that perseverance and discipline eventually pay off despite repeated setbacks. Simon said his journey from the Kaduna barracks to professional football in Europe taught him that perseverance and discipline eventually pay off despite repeated setbacks.