Brentford midfielder Frank Onyeka has opened up about the emotional and physical struggle he faced when he first moved to Europe, revealing that he broke down in tears after one of his earliest training sessions in the freezing cold of Denmark.
The Nigerian international, now a key player for both Brentford and the Super Eagles, spoke on The Culture League podcast about how the early stages of his career abroad were far from easy.
His emotional story sheds light on the hidden battles young African players often face when chasing their football dreams in foreign countries.
In 2016, Onyeka left Nigeria as a teenager to join Danish club FC Midtjylland after coming through their partner team, FC Ebedei. But life in Europe was not what he expected. The weather, language, and tactical approach to football were all unfamiliar and tough to handle.
“It was not easy,” Onyeka said. “I left Nigeria and had to learn a new way of life and a new way of playing. The language was different. The cold was something else.”
The midfielder, born and raised in Benin City, admitted that the freezing conditions hit him hard. Having never experienced winter before, the cold Danish weather took a serious toll on his body and mind.
A Moment of Tears
The most heartbreaking part of his story came when Onyeka remembered one particular training session that pushed him beyond his limit.
Alongside a teammate, he found himself overwhelmed after a tough workout in the bitter cold.
“I remember my first winter in Denmark,” he said. “After training, I was crying. My friend too. We removed our gloves and we were both just crying.”
Despite the outside view that footballers live easy lives, Onyeka’s story shows that many suffer in silence as they try to adjust to new challenges far from home.
More Than Just Football
Onyeka noted that the journey from Nigeria to Denmark, then to England and Germany, came with different levels of difficulty.
It was not just about football, but about adapting to new cultures, following new systems, and trying to survive away from family and friends.
He said many fans think footballers have it all. But in reality, the sacrifices behind the scenes often go unnoticed.
“It’s hard. People say, ‘he’s a footballer, he’s living large.’ But there are things they don’t see. The training. The cold. The loneliness. It can be too much sometimes.”
Now an experienced player in the English Premier League, Onyeka has overcome those tough beginnings and grown into a respected figure in African football.
