Taiwo Awniyi reveals: Education has become a very important part of my journey in life

England’s Coventry City forward Taiwo Awoniyi has revealed that he enrolled in a postgraduate program because “education has become a very important part” of his life journey and he wants to continue learning off the pitch.

Sports247 reports that Awoniyi made this known when he took to social media to reveal his recent graduation with a merit-graded Postgraduate Diploma in Global Football Sports Management from the Professional Players’ Association (PFA) Business School in England.

Also read: Beyond the pitch: Coventry City striker Taiwo Awoniyi graduates with a director of football diploma

The 29-year-old former England Nottingham Forest attacker, who previously played for top clubs in Belgium and Germany, also revealed that he decided to attend the course because he is already thinking about life after football once he retires.

He also gave a hint that he would continue in football after hanging up his boots, hence the choice of an institution that offers current and former players opportunities to prepare for careers in football management, leadership, operations, sports strategy and marketing.

While providing the foundation for retired players to continue in football as a sporting director, the course Awoniyi attended is run part-time over two academic years, with the qualification awarded by the University of Portsmouth in collaboration with the PFA Business School.

The Super Eagles fringe player, who rose to prominence in the UAE 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup Golden Eglets Trophy-winning team, after which he signed for England’s Liverpool but never played a competitive match for them, also revealed that he always had a passion for education.

A grateful Awoniyi posted: “I have always believed that being a footballer should not stop you from being a student of the game, and education has become an important part of that journey for me. Thank you to everyone at PFA Business School.

“(Thanks also to) the teachers and my colleagues, with whom I had the opportunity to learn. And a special thanks to my family and friends for their encouragement and support throughout. I continue to play and learn. The journey continues.”