Young Nigerian footballer Ogenyi Onazi has sprung into the limelight in Italy with his pre-season form for Serie A giants Lazio and looks assured of a regular spot in the first team for the coming season.

Onazi, who is a product of Nigerian youth academy My People FC, set up by Pastor T.B. Joshua ‘to help and safeguard young Nigerians who might otherwise be on the streets’, has impressed Biancocelesti coach Vladimir Petkovic with his pre-season form. He capped off his form with his first goal for the senior team in their 4-0 victory against Nuova Circle on Wednesday 2nd August.

Aged just 19, Onazi was born on Christmas day in 1992 in Benue State, Nigeria. The teen who played for Nigeria’s ‘Golden Eaglets’ during the U-17 World Cup in 2009 had trialled with Tottenham and Chelsea before finally settling with the Italian giants.

Onazi has been utilised in both central midfield and right-midfield areas where he has played against Torino, Siena, Montebelluna and Top 11 Calcio Club 103 in Lazio's friendly matches.

Lazio’s central defendee, Giuseppe Biava, praised the young African for his performances during a press conference: “He has personality and good game viewing. He’s young and has to learn, but I think he will be useful for us this season. Onazi will become important for the future of Lazio.”

According to the Italian press, Onazi’s rise to prominence is connected not only to his talent but the influence of his football roots with My People FC. One Italian newspaper described it thus, “T.B. Joshua founded a football club My People FC, born with the aim to get some less privileged boys off the streets in Nigeria, giving them opportunity to show their talents, in the belief that such boys would be able to revive the fortunes of the African country. Such is the case with Eddy Onazi.”

According to Lazio’s coach Petkovic, “If he keeps up this form, you will see him in big games.”