Taiwo Awoniyi has revealed he got down on his knees and prayed for six hours before he scored twice for Nottingham Forest to beat fellow strugglers Southampton and move out of the relegation zone in the Premier League.
The 25-year-old Awoniyi was outstanding in May during which time he scored the match winner against title-chasing Arsenal to finally escape the dreaded drop.
A video on social media captured the moment the striker testified at Koinonia Ministry, Nigeria, expressing gratitude to God after Forest stayed put in the Premier League.
He said, “My name is Awoniyi Taiwo. I just want to give God the glory and thank our Daddy (Joshua Selman) for the privilege he has given to everyone of us here.
“I moved to England with my family. The beginning was really tough. I had no idea what was going on. My wife said to me, ‘you don’t play the way you used to do anymore.’ And that was true.
“So, on May 7, I think, Daddy was preaching about the ways of God. The first statement that I heard was that ‘everyone should return to the pattern that they used to praise God.’
“That Monday, we had a game in the night, I was on my knees from 6a.m. 12noon. That night, that was the easiest game that I have played in my life. And I scored twice. (vs Southampton, which Forest won 4-3 at home).
“My club, which was really struggling for relegation, moved from that zone and stayed in the league.
“I just want to give all the glory to God.”
He fired 10 goals in his debut season in the Premier League.
