Ferencváros star Fortune Bassey has revealed that he supported Chelsea while growing up as a young footballer in Benin City.
The pacey striker got a lot of media coverage back home in his native Nigeria, during the 2022-2023 season, where he featured in five matches in the group stage of UEFA Champions League, including two against Barcelona.
Bassey revealed that he was a hardcore Chelsea fan, so much so that he cried after the Blues lost on penalties to Manchester United in the 2008 Champions League final.
Originally a winger, Bassey started his career in Benin City with Royal Force, before switching to Bohemians 1905 B following a successful trial.
After Bohemians 1905 B passed up the opportunity to offer him a first team contract, he transferred to Olympia Radotín, followed by spells with Ústí nad Labem, České Budějovice, Vlašim, Ferencváros, Viktoria Plzeň, Degerfors and Hapoel Petah Tikva.
Speaking in an interview, Bassey said: “Before when I was in Nigeria, I was supporting Chelsea, I love Chelsea so much.
“Even when we lost the UEFA Champions League final to Manchester United in 2008, I went home, I was crying so I love Chelsea so much because of Didier Drogba.
“They have a lot of stars. Even now I support them but not that much like you know (in the past).”
Bassey attested to how good retired Belgium international Eden Hazard was when he was playing for Chelsea.
During his seven-year association with Chelsea, Hazard won the Premier League on two occasions, the Europa League twice and the FA Cup and League Cup once, and was voted Chelsea Player of the Year on four occasions.
“I love Eden Hazard when he was playing in Chelsea. At this time he was top.
“He was a really good player because I like the way he takes the ball, drags the players, creates some chances, go 1v1, so I like these kind of players,” Bassey said.
Olaitan Ibrahim