‘I Was Crying’: Onyeka Recalls Harsh Reality of First Winter Training

Brentford and Super Eagles midfielder Frank Onyeka has opened up about the emotional struggle of adjusting to European football, revealing how he once broke down in tears after enduring his first winter training session in Denmark.

In 2016, Onyeka made the bold move from Nigeria to FC Midtjylland in Denmark at just 18 years old. The drastic shift in weather, culture, and professional intensity hit hard. “I remember my first winter training session  I was crying,” he admitted in a recent interview. “It was so cold. I just couldn’t understand how people trained in that kind of weather.”

The midfielder, now a regular in the Premier League with Brentford, recalled how the biting Danish winter made him question whether he belonged. “I had never experienced anything like that before. I almost gave up,” he said. “It wasn’t just the cold  it was the loneliness, the new environment, and trying to prove myself every day.”

Despite the early struggles, Onyeka adapted over time, becoming a key player for Midtjylland before earning a move to Brentford in 2021. “Looking back, those tough moments shaped me. They made me stronger mentally and physically,” he said. “I’m proud I didn’t give up.”

He also credited the Danish club’s support structure and his own resilience for helping him through. “There were days I didn’t feel like going to training. But I always remembered why I came to succeed.”

Editorial

Frank Onyeka’s emotional reflection offers a poignant reminder of the human side of professional football. We often celebrate the dazzling performances and big-money moves, but we forget the silent battles these players endure far from home, far from comfort, and far from everything familiar.

We need to talk more about what it truly means to transition from Nigerian football academies to European leagues. It’s not just a matter of talent it’s adaptation, mental strength, and perseverance in the face of cultural and climatic shock. Onyeka’s account of crying during his first winter training should not be dismissed as weakness; it is an emblem of the emotional grit needed to survive and thrive in elite football.

We believe Onyeka’s experience speaks for hundreds of young African players who quietly endure similar ordeals. For every star who shines in Europe, there are many others who struggle, falter, or return home prematurely not because they lacked ability, but because they lacked the necessary support during those crucial early months.

We must advocate for better transitional programmes, both from clubs and player agents. Mental health, cultural orientation, and pastoral care should not be afterthoughts they should be core to a young player’s development overseas.

Frank Onyeka endured the cold, the doubt, and the solitude. And now he shines in the Premier League. His tears were not a sign of failure they were part of the transformation. We owe it to future talents to make their paths less lonely.

Did You Know?

1. Frank Onyeka’s move to FC Midtjylland was facilitated through the club’s partnership with Nigerian academy FC Ebedei, which has produced several Super Eagles players.
2. Onyeka made his UEFA Champions League debut with Midtjylland in the 2020/21 season, featuring against teams like Liverpool and Atalanta.
3. He completed the most tackles per 90 minutes for Brentford during the 2022/23 Premier League season.
4. Onyeka was nicknamed “The Tank” during his time in Denmark for his relentless work rate and physical style of play.
5. His first full international cap for Nigeria came in October 2020 against Algeria in a friendly match.