Born in Sweden, he is the son of a Nigerian and plays in Colombia: Kevin Aladesanmi, the goalscorer who wants to embitter Boca

Their names and surnames are already starting to tell a story. His name is Kevin Ademola Aladesanmi Sanchez. He was born in Jönköping, a Swedish city of 141,081 inhabitants. (according to the December 2020 census). It is said of that city that it has many churches, that there is a high school, a hospital and some museums. Also two smaller lakes, Munksjön and Rocksjön. And in the east of this territory there is a sports arena. Play football? No, Kinnarps Arena is owned by the HV71 ice hockey team.

Kevin inherited football. It’s a matter of blood of the current Deportivo Pereira striker, Colombian soccer champion last season and Boca’s rival, this Tuesday evening at La Bombonera. Right from his father, Félix Ademola, former Norwegian footballer and current Norwegian nationalized Nigerian coach.

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Félix received Norwegian nationality from his long football career in that Scandinavian country, between 1997 and 2011. He has played for Skeid, Hamarkameratene, Hønefoss BK, Vard Haugesund, Manglerud Star and FK Haugesund; he was also on loan at Årvoll IL. No big team; almost all local representatives who seem to pay homage to two excellent series filmed in the Scandinavian region: Lylyhammer and Rita.

Félix had a ride through Husqvarna, from Sweden. Nearby was born Kevin. His mother Sandra Sánchez is Colombian. Three years after Kevin’s birth, his father allowed himself that He has some of the best memories: in 2001 he played his only match for the Nigerian national team.

A love story and a separation

Ibagué, department of Tolima, is known as the musical capital of Colombia. There, between dances, agreements and words, Sandra and Félix met when Kevin’s father was playing for Deportes Tolima, the most important team in that place. Current footballer Pereira was born when his parents were in Sweden. But soon they went to Norway, where Kevin grew up.

Later, when his parents separated, he moved back to Colombia with his mother. As a teenager, he began playing at the Tolimense Academy, the same where the Colombian star James Rodríguez trained. He was not comfortable, it was difficult for him to adapt to all activities.

But he played well. AND at his destination he ran into a talent hunter who proposed him to Udinese. The Friulian club, where Roberto Sensini and Abel Balbo are true celebrities, gave it to Olhense, from Portugal. Over there He became, at the age of 18, the second youngest Colombian footballer to make his football debut in the Old Continent (surpassed only by Johnnier Montaño, who made his Parma debut in 1999 at the age of 16).

All the antechambers of Pereira

Kevin, already with his triple nationality (Swedish, Nigerian, Colombian), has traveled a good part of Colombia following in the footsteps of what he always wanted, to establish himself as a footballer: he moved to Barranquilla FC, Junior (He was champion of the 2018 Finalization Tournament), Itaguí Leones, Bucaramanga, Patriotas Boyacá and Fortaleza.

In 2023 he joined the champion, Deportivo Pereira, El Matecaña… And the Libertadores play. He says it whenever asked: “Participating in this tournament is a dream for me. i’m realizing it. And I want to continue with my team until the end“.

Further details: Pereira’s arch-rival is Once Caldas. The name of the duel between El Blanco and El Matecaña is called El Clásico del Eje Cafetero. The Manizales team, leader in history for 17 games, is one of two Colombian teams that have won the Copa Libertadores (the other, Atlético Nacional in 1989 and 2016). The final was won on penalties against Boca de Bianchi in 2004. Yes, the same Boca -albeit with a different actuality- in front of which Kevin will try to show what they hired him for.

Kevin comes in the best way

Kevin Aladesanmi had a remarkable performance in the last game he played for Deportivo Pereira against Unión Magdalena, as a visitor, for the Colombian league. It was a victory in which the forward from the multinationals had a lot to do: he scored two goals and was a protagonist.

His goals came at key moments: one at the start of each half, ten early on and three in the plug-in. Matecaña’s other goal was scored by Maicol Medina. Three to zero and a smile for Kevin before the visit to the Bombonera, for the Libertadores. In his Group F debut, he drew 1-1 against Colo Colo, at the Hernán Ramírez Villegas side.

In the end, there was applause and praise from the media The 24-year-old striker, 185 centimetres, thousands of kilometers traveled and many stories following him.

In one way or more, your case applies to the advice offered by Gabriel Garcia Marquez in his book “Notes de prensa II”. For those who want to tell the story of Kevin Ademola Aladesanmi Sánchez in detail. “We writers of Latin America and the Caribbean must recognize, hands on heart, that reality is a better writer than ourselves. Our destiny, and perhaps our glory, is to try to imitate it humbly, and the best what we can can do it can be possible”.

The opportunity offered by the Bombonera as a universal sounding board can be very useful for the visibility of its history of wonder and travel to many corners where it was invisible. For this, she has an idea, which she has fixed on his Twitter account, with just 135 followers:”Keep calm, even when your heart is on fire.”