Super Eagles winger, Victor Moses is hoping to lead Chelsea and Nigeria into more Promised Land.
The 26-year-old has had a resurgence of his career since being moved to wing back and admits life just doesn’t get better than this both on and off the field.
Moses pocketed a championship medal, got married, established himself as ‘the indispensable man’ in manager Antonio Conte’s side and helped Nigeria become the first African nation to qualify for next year’s World Cup.
He said: “For me, it’s definitely the top – my best year so far, on and off the pitch.”
Only hiccup is being squeezed out of the top three to become African Player of the Year, behind Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Egypt’s Mo Salah and Sengal’s Sadio Mane – a decision that angered the Nigerian Football Federation.
Moses would rather claim he was in the running then being over-looked.
He added: “I must have done well. It felt good to be nominated. I’ve worked so hard. It’s a bit crazy and shows how far I’ve come.”
Moses had the perseverance to make a success of his Chelsea career despite being continually sent out on loan says a great deal about his character.
Yet this determination pales into insignificance when compared to the biggest mountain he had to climb.
Moses was just 11 when he arrived in England as an asylum seeker after both his mother and father were killed during religious clashes in Nigeria in 2002.
He was playing football in the streets when his parents lost their lives. Just a week later, his remaining family had cobbled together enough money to send him away from his homeland.
Palace under Neil Warnock gave him his chance. His natural ability showed he would never have been a mid-level journeyman, with mates claiming he would either play Champions League, or on park pitches.
No-one else at Chelsea can do what he does and without him, Conte’s 3-4-3 system would collapse.
After spending the previous three seasons being shipped around on loan, it might be a surprise.
Never able to make much of an impression at Liverpool, Stoke City or West Ham United, Moses looked set to be sold by before Conte arrived. Just another youngster who could not cut it at Chelsea.
Moses spent most of his career in a more advance role, before settling into a wing-back as Conte dramatically tore up previous manuals and stamped his own authority on the club.
He said: “Becoming a wing back is not an easy transition. It’s not an easy job and you need stamina to play there.
“The manager works me on the training ground, and it’s been really good. When you have someone who is really backing you it gives you confidence.”
He picked up an injury against his former club Palace and was out of the side for six weeks in the autumn, but was recalled the moment he was fit again.
He added: “It’s been a great year for me. I’ve really enjoyed it, but want to keep it going.”
After playing for England from U-16 to U-21, Moses opted for the country of his birth and says: “Nigeria were the first African country to qualify for the world cup.
“We are like Chelsea. We believe in ourselves. Chelsea have loads of games of coming up. We’ve got a great squad, and the manager we have here, we know what we are capable of.”
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
