{"id":426468,"date":"2024-12-20T17:22:33","date_gmt":"2024-12-20T17:22:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/?p=426468"},"modified":"2024-12-23T11:36:20","modified_gmt":"2024-12-23T11:36:20","slug":"african-footballer-of-the-year-grew-up-in-peckham-and-got-straight-as-in-gcses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/peckham\/african-footballer-of-the-year-grew-up-in-peckham-and-got-straight-as-in-gcses\/","title":{"rendered":"African footballer of the year grew up in Peckham and got straight As in GCSEs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>The new African footballer of the year, Ademola Lookman, grew up and attended a school in Peckham where he got straight As and was a model student.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lookman, 27, attended St Thomas the Apostle in Nunhead, before signing to Charlton Athletic aged seventeen, kick-starting a dramatic career of both soaring heights and crushing lows.&nbsp;<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"69959\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448384\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">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<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>After receiving the prize on Monday, December 16, Lookman has a place in history once held by legends like Samuel Eto\u2019o, George Weah, Abedi Pele and Didier Drogba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the road to the top has been bumpy, with a tough moment coming while he was on a season-long loan at Fulham from RB Leipzig.&nbsp;<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"68153\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448385\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMjk5NzgwMDcyOCIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWNvbnRlbnQgc291dGgtZW50aXR5LXBsYWNlbWVudCIgc3R5bGU9Im1hcmdpbi1sZWZ0OiBhdXRvO21hcmdpbi1yaWdodDogYXV0bzt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOiBjZW50ZXI7Ij48IS0tICAvMTU0NzI1MDcwLDIyNjk0MTk2OTY5L3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3Mvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cyAtLT4NCjxkaXYgaWQ9ImRpdi1ncHQtYWQtMngxIj4NCjxzY3JpcHQ+DQpnb29nbGV0YWcuY21kLnB1c2goZnVuY3Rpb24oKSB7IGdvb2dsZXRhZy5kaXNwbGF5KCdkaXYtZ3B0LWFkLTJ4MScpOyB9KTsNCjwvc2NyaXB0Pg0KPC9kaXY+ICAgICAgICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"SunE1Qjz5P9XcgtpOb23ExvMPUL2VdR3ibJk50DMet1Z6k7HjThK8CHhmeciGw4YZnIfApwF0BfDFdmJCy\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"55zHtw4BbK\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/news\/news-plus\/peckham-rye-businesses-blighted-by-delayed-station-square-regeneration-say-the-area-has-been-left-to-rot\/\">Peckham Rye: Businesses blighted by delayed Station Square regeneration say the area has been &#8216;left to rot&#8217;<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Peckham Rye: Businesses blighted by delayed Station Square regeneration say the area has been &#8216;left to rot&#8217;&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/news\/news-plus\/peckham-rye-businesses-blighted-by-delayed-station-square-regeneration-say-the-area-has-been-left-to-rot\/embed\/#?secret=sVYktgQC1D#?secret=55zHtw4BbK\" data-secret=\"55zHtw4BbK\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In November 2020, during injury time of a televised Premier League fixture against West Ham at the London Stadium, Fulham were tailing by a goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The visitors were awarded a penalty but Lookman\u2019s weak Panenka chip looped straight into the arms of Lukasz Fabianski.&nbsp;<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71156\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448386\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtNDEyNjkzODgwMyIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWluLWFydGljbGUtbXB1OSBzb3V0aC1lbnRpdHktcGxhY2VtZW50Ij48IS0tICAvMTU0NzI1MDcwLDIyNjk0MTk2OTY5L3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3Mvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cyAtLT4NCjxkaXYgaWQ9ImRpdi1ncHQtYWQtbXB1OSI+DQo8c2NyaXB0Pg0KZ29vZ2xldGFnLmNtZC5wdXNoKGZ1bmN0aW9uKCkgeyBnb29nbGV0YWcuZGlzcGxheSgnZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHU5Jyk7IH0pOw0KPC9zY3JpcHQ+DQo8L2Rpdj4gICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI couldn\u2019t even describe the devastation,\u201d Lookman told the <em>Guardian<\/em> a few months later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Speaking in Yoruba, and wearing a traditional agbada robe, Lookman said: \u201cI want to say to the young children and people watching this: don\u2019t let your failures weigh you down so they break your wings. But turn your pain into your power and continue to fly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lookman, born in 1997, was raised by his mother in Peckham, attending St Thomas the Apostle, while his father remained in Nigeria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"wrJVzsIMHvSO6QNCFCVgRDW8a3Ryu4as9qFHZAMkjixqZeYuvb5cpUI2PXy08o7iPfJLAWj47eNE9n61dbh\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"y3GQxrIb5d\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/sport\/football\/millwall\/neil-harris-reveals-his-plans-after-stepping-down-as-millwall-head-coach-and-southend-united-are-part-of-them\/\">Neil Harris reveals his plans after stepping down as Millwall head coach<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Neil Harris reveals his plans after stepping down as Millwall head coach&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/sport\/football\/millwall\/neil-harris-reveals-his-plans-after-stepping-down-as-millwall-head-coach-and-southend-united-are-part-of-them\/embed\/#?secret=D4kfnPgvyx#?secret=y3GQxrIb5d\" data-secret=\"y3GQxrIb5d\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In an interview with&nbsp;<em>Southwark News<\/em>&nbsp;in 2017, one of his former teachers, Ali Young, described the former St Thomas the Apostle pupil as a \u201cmodel student\u201d.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71157\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448387\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMzM4NTg5ODMyMSIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWluLWFydGljbGUtbXB1LTEwIHNvdXRoLWVudGl0eS1wbGFjZW1lbnQiPjwhLS0gIC8xNTQ3MjUwNzAsMjI2OTQxOTY5Njkvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cy9zb3V0aHdhcmtuZXdzIC0tPg0KPGRpdiBpZD0iZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHUxMCI+DQo8c2NyaXB0Pg0KZ29vZ2xldGFnLmNtZC5wdXNoKGZ1bmN0aW9uKCkgeyBnb29nbGV0YWcuZGlzcGxheSgnZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHUxMCcpOyB9KTsNCjwvc2NyaXB0Pg0KPC9kaXY+ICAgICA8L2Rpdj4=<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHe was a standout footballer in his year group and a standout sportsman. He was a good all-rounder \u2013 he was a top performer in a number of sports but obviously, football was his best,\u201d Young said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ademola achieved four A*\u2019s and five A\u2019s in his GCSEs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Young added: \u201cI remember him being in school until 6pm every night revising for his GCSEs. It didn\u2019t really matter what he was doing, he would be one hundred per cent dedicated to it. He was deputy head boy, too. He was a model student \u2013 both sports-wise and academically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHe is a really humble, articulate and intelligent young man. We\u2019re all incredibly proud of him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lookman left Charlton for Everton aged nineteen in an \u00a311million deal in 2017 but struggled to secure a regular starting place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He went on loan and then made a permanent move to RB Leipzig in the German Bundesliga.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"ugFitzVLIDdwn7K3CYa9X1hfGUM0m2oJqjQy4lpv\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"ZbRfElUD64\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/peckham\/food-and-drink-review-hausu-in-peckham\/\">Food and drink review: Hausu\u00a0in Peckham<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Food and drink review: Hausu\u00a0in Peckham&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/peckham\/food-and-drink-review-hausu-in-peckham\/embed\/#?secret=YuDCuqmJmj#?secret=ZbRfElUD64\" data-secret=\"ZbRfElUD64\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It again looked like he wouldn\u2019t fulfill the talent he showed in South London when further loans at Fulham and Leicester City followed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But a \u00a310 million move to Serie A Atalanta was the making of him.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He became the first player since 1975 to score a hat-trick in a major European final when he tore through Bayer Leverkusen \u2013 who hadn\u2019t lost a game in any competition all season \u2013 to help the&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nerazzurri to a 3-0 win in the Europa League final in 2023-24.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lookman represented England up to under-21 level but qualifies for Nigeria through his parents and made his senior international debut in 2022.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He helped them into the final of the Africa Cup of Nations last year, where they lost 2-1 to Ivory Coast.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lookman finished fourteenth in this year\u2019s Ballon d\u2019Or before being crowned Africa\u2019s best this week.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The new African footballer of the year, Ademola Lookman, grew up and attended a school in Peckham where he got straight As and was a model student. Lookman, 27, attended St Thomas the Apostle in Nunhead, before signing to Charlton Athletic aged seventeen, kick-starting a dramatic career of both soaring heights and crushing lows.&nbsp; After [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18938,"featured_media":426469,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"format":"standard","override":[{"template":"1","parallax":"1","fullscreen":"1","layout":"right-sidebar","sidebar":"default-sidebar","second_sidebar":"default-sidebar","sticky_sidebar":"1","share_position":"top","share_float_style":"share-monocrhome","show_share_counter":"1","show_view_counter":"1","show_featured":"1","show_post_meta":"1","show_post_author":"1","show_post_author_image":"1","show_post_date":"1","post_date_format":"default","post_date_format_custom":"Y\/m\/d","show_post_category":"1","show_post_reading_time":"0","post_reading_time_wpm":"300","post_calculate_word_method":"str_word_count","show_zoom_button":"0","zoom_button_out_step":"2","zoom_button_in_step":"3","show_post_tag":"1","show_prev_next_post":"1","show_popup_post":"1","number_popup_post":"1","show_author_box":"1","show_inline_post_related":"1"}],"image_override":[{"single_post_thumbnail_size":"crop-500","single_post_gallery_size":"crop-500"}],"trending_post_position":"meta","trending_post_label":"Trending","sponsored_post_label":"Sponsored by","disable_ad":"0","subtitle":"Ademola Lookman's meteoric rise was kick-started when Charlton Athletic signed him as a teenager"},"jnews_primary_category":{"id":"33"},"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":{"view_counter_number":"0","share_counter_number":"0","like_counter_number":"0","dislike_counter_number":"0"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[13539,13602,33],"tags":[118,8099],"class_list":["post-426468","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-news","category-peckham","tag-football","tag-st-thomas-the-apostle"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/426468","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18938"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=426468"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/426468\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/426469"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=426468"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=426468"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=426468"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}