TSG Hoffenheim defender Kasim Nuhu Adams has revealed in an interview that his father played a very key role when he travelled to Spain to begin his European football journey.
Kasim Adams joined Leganes from Ghana Premier League side Medeama in January 30, 2014.
He was later loaned to Spanish side Real Mallorca in the summer of 2015.
Adams joined Swiss giants Young Boys where he helped them end their 32 years League trophy drought before later switching to camp to Bundesliga side Hoffenheim.
Reacting to a question asked in an interview with tsg-hoffenheim.de on where he summoned up the strength for his development, Adams said: ”I did all I could to make my family proud. At the start I felt very lonely in Spain, for long periods of time I had almost no-one to talk to. I was still a teenager back then.
”Even the weather posed a challenge, as I arrived in the middle of winter. The first three months were a real test of my character. I got the train for trial sessions at various different clubs. Looking back now, I’m very grateful for my agent Jose, who brought me from Ghana to Spain and took care of me once I arrived. I put all my eggs in one basket, and thankfully the risk paid off.”
He added that: ”We were in constant contact and he always sent me good news from home and the family. That really reassured and helped me, which was really important during this time. Jose helped me in Spain and got me a place at school, while my dad supported me from Ghana.
”My youth coach was also very important for me. They all made sure that I focused on football and didn’t waste my time doing stupid things.
”He wanted me to get a good education. ‘You have to go to school, you have to go to school, you have to go to school’ – that’s what he would tell me every day. My mother always supported me in doing what I wanted to do with my life. She would often say: ‘We don’t know how far he can go. We should give him the chance to become a professional footballer.’
”At some point, my father got on board. He knew that there weren’t that many opportunities to achieve something. He’s very proud of me now, but we used to argue a lot when I would come home late from football,” the Black Stars defender concluded.
