FLASHBACK: Hoffenheim Defender Akpoguma: I Am Interested In Playing For Nigeria BUT......

Hoffenheim center back Kevin Akpoguma has a soft spot for Nigeria, and he will explore the possibility of representing the national team after the Fifa Under 20 World Cup.

In spite of that, the 19-year-old’s heart is with Germany’s youth team for now, and he has not ruled out playing for the senior squad should he put himself in the shop window during the tournament in New Zealand.
 
Bear it in mind that Germany has a population of approximately 80 million people, and the outstanding youngsters are normally invited to the senior squad  when they turn 20 or 21, an immense honour to the selected players.
 
“I am very interested in playing for Nigeria. For the moment, that’s one of my biggest dreams,” Kevin Akpoguma told SL10.ng.
 
“But I now play for Germany’s Under 20 team, I am a member of the team and a regular player.
 
“My chances are open. If I do well at the Under 20 World Cup, it’s possible I will be invited to their main team.”
 
Kevin Akpoguma has failed to break into the first team of Hoffenheim, fueling speculation that he is set to depart the Rhein-Neckar Arena, with the likes of Hamburg and Werder Bremen reportedly set to pounce for him.
 
But the Karlsruher SC product has watered down talk of an imminent departure from Hoffenheim in January.
 
“I am staying at Hoffenheim. They see potential in me, and I will be traveling with the team to South Africa for a training camp next month,” Kevin Akpoguma said.
 
The defender has clocked up 17 appearances for Hoffenheim II in the Regionalliga so far this season, picking up only one booking in those matches.

*Originally published by SL10.ng on December 22, 2014 by Editor, allnigeriasoccer.com, Ifeanyi Emmanuel