""The way I play football gets people off their seats," says Iliman Ndiaye. Everton fans were certainly on their feet when the midfielder netted an early goal of the season contender against Sunderland earlier this month. After getting the ball on the right wing, he flashed past his opponents' defence in an impressive display of speed and skill before putting it away with his weaker foot."
"The French-born footballer did not have an easy run on his way to the top, with numerous clubs rejecting him over the years, including Chelsea and Tottenham. He got close while with the Southampton development team, which led to a six-week trial at the club, but he didn't make the cut. The disappointing run continued until Boreham Wood, who are in the fifth tier of English Football, signed him in 2017."
"The Senegalese winger's talent is taken for granted now, but he had to work hard to prove himself before landing a spot in a Premier League starting-lineup. He tells BBC Newsbeat that Rising Ballers, a media brand that uses grassroots initiatives to show off unsigned talent, was instrumental in helping him to showcase his skills. "The things I was doing there, I wasn't doing at other clubs. It helped me stay fit and enjoy football more, especially when you don't have a club," he says."
Iliman Ndiaye, a French-born Senegalese winger, impressed Everton fans with a skillful goal after bursting past Sunderland's defence and scoring with his weaker foot. Numerous clubs rejected him earlier, including Chelsea and Tottenham, and a six-week Southampton trial did not result in signing. He joined Boreham Wood in 2017, later trialed and signed by Sheffield United at 19, but needed to maintain fitness before starting. Grassroots media brand Rising Ballers provided competitive opportunities and exposure through five-a-side and showcase games, helping him stay fit, enjoy football, and demonstrate his skill to earn professional chances.
Read at www.bbc.com
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