I Worked Hard to Get Here – Victor Olatunji Reflects on UCL Debut Success
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Sparta Prague forward, Victor Olatunji has reacted to his big UEFA Champions League night in the club’s 3-0 victory over Salzburg on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old delivered a standout display in his UEFA Champions League debut, helping the Czech champions secure a dominant win in the competition’s revamped format.
Olatunji contributed both a goal and an assist, becoming the first Nigerian to achieve this feat on his Champions League debut. After scoring, he revealed an undershirt with the message: “I am Chosen. Who are you?” — a gesture that fueled ongoing discussions around a viral trend in Nigeria linked to the Chosen Church.
Olatunji displays a shirt with the lettering reading ‘I am a chosen, who are you’ under his jersey as he celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League match against FC RB Salzburg. (Photo by Michal Cizek / AFP)
Speaking after the match, Olatunji expressed his joy over both his personal performance and the team’s triumph.
“I feel good, I feel great and I’m very happy for myself, because I worked hard to get to this point. I’m also happy for the team,” he told UEFA’s official website.
Reflecting on his contributions, he added, “I just wanted to put the ball in the back of the net. It was my only dream for tonight. We always play like a team – I really enjoyed it,”
Regarding his assist for the third goal, Olatunji explained his unselfish decision:
“For the third goal, I could have shot but I wanted to give us a bigger chance [of scoring], because missing that chance would not have been good for the team.”
Olatunji’s memorable debut has set the stage for what could be a defining season for the Nigerian forward in Europe’s elite competition.
