Ex-Ghana youth international Ibrahim Atiku is determined to make the most of his chance with English side Swindon Town after signing a two-year deal with the club.
The 28-year-old has had something of a nomadic career to date having played for no less than eight clubs since turning professional over a decade ago.
For Atiku, his career has been a tale of missed opportunities, having once impressed Sir Alex Ferguson enough to earn a trial at Manchester United, while also training with German giants Borussia Dortmund.
Atiku has struggled to establish himself at one club for long and having been given the chance to do that at Swindon, he has no intention of letting this chance pass.
“I am not a good gambler but this opportunity is something I am going all in with,†he told the Advertiser. “I will grasp this chance and see where it takes me in my career.
“If I never get the opportunity to play in the Championship or Premier League, I will always remember that one time in my football career I had a legend like Paolo Di Canio notice my quality and my ability.â€
Atiku has wanted nothing more than to prove to other aspiring footballers that with the right amount of determination, anything can be achieved.
And the former Ghana under-17 international is confident he will have a story to tell when he finally does hang up his boots.
“I have always wanted my life to be an inspiration to the young ones,†he continued. “I have been through a lot in my career and this chance coming now is something I have always been waiting for.
“I am not going to let it end yet, I am going to push all out to see where it takes me. I have a strong belief that one day I will have a great story to tell the young ones and inspire them.
“In life there is always hope and there is nothing you can do without this. It does not matter how long it takes but if you want something and work hard for it, the chance will surely come.â€