From out-shining Palmer to a new start and FA Cup joy at Buxton

One of them, who has long been praised for having “potent finishing ability,” scores twice. the other ? Cole Palmer…

The nephew of two ex-Nigeria international footballers, Efe and Sam, is Tai Sodje, the son of former rugby speedster Bright and son of former rugby players who outshone Palmer that day.

His passion is sports.

Before beginning his injury-delayed senior career with non-league Buxton this season, he spent ten years on City’s books as a youth player.

The 22-year-old has scored 14 goals in all competitions in his first four months of first-team football following his release from the Premier League club in the summer.

And he has assisted Cheltenham Town, a League Two side, in their FA Cup second-round game against the National League North on Saturday.

According to Sheffield-born Sodje, “I’m happy with that as long as I’m keeping fit, playing, and scoring,” as long as I’m keeping that in mind, I’m happy with that.”

“When I first signed for Buxton, my goal was to go score, let’s go score,” I said to myself. And it has really helped me feel more confident doing it.

He topped City’s Under-18 scoring chart with 19 league goals, according to the words he wrote at the start of the season. Palmer had already hit 15, though in fewer games.

However, Sodje’s injury history prevented him from entering the same footballing stratosphere as Palmer did.

In a $40 million move, Palmer had switched sky blue for royal blue two years after helping Sodje score the second of his two goals against Chelsea’s Under-23s in a 4-1 Premier League 2 victory over Chelsea’s Under-23s in 2021.

Sodje also played alongside Palmer, who would later become the subject of a big-money transfer.

Both Shea Charles and fellow midfielder Liam Delap, who was sold to Ipswich before joining Palmer at Chelsea, have attracted sizable sums of money.

Due to a string of poorly timed injuries, Sodje continued playing for City’s youth teams, never being able to join the first team or get a loan move away.

However, Sodje is not envious of what former team- and friend players have accomplished while playing the game at a young age.

He might be referring to the accomplishments they made as inspiration.

He said, “When you see people who have gone on the same journey as you doing great things, you know it can happen.”

When describing every aspect of his career to date, Sodje is pragmatic, reflective, and optimistic.

He is appreciative of the ten years he spent at City, the teammates he met, the coaches he studied with, and the facilities he was able to access.

His father Bright spent years playing rugby league in the Super League, while his uncles Sam, Efe, and Akpo had long careers in the sport, have helped him stay patiently focused on the career he is trying to create.

He continued to give me tips after his father Bright, Sodje said.

He successfully completed it, and he demonstrated that the discipline and dedication required for those positions are the same as in all other sports.

After a trial period at League Two Fleetwood Town ended, Sodje has found a new beginning in Buxton.

Silverlands Stadium, a ground in the Derbyshire spa town dubbed “the man’s home” at Manchester City, may not have the same level of amenities as his former home there. It is a ground owned by a police station, terraced houses, and an allotment.

Anywhere will be different from City, Sodje said. But I’m still playing football, isn’t I? Not everything else around it is necessary at all.

Your career only really begins in men’s football, in my opinion, despite having spent so long at City with the academy side.

And despite everything Sodje learned at City and his training sessions spent with one of English football’s behemoths, Buxton won him over with a goal.

The first-round goalie Erling Haaland, who set a new record for goalscoring, scored the Connor Kirby dipping long-range extra-time winner in the first round against Chatham Town that topped anything Sodje got to witness firsthand.

That is “the best goal I have ever seen on the pitch,” Sodje said. It was absurd. abominable