LAGOS, Nigeria — Sporting Lagos midfielder Victor Umoh has explained the personal story behind his decision to wear the name “Clifford” on his jersey, revealing that the change honours his late father and the community where he grew up.
The midfielder, who is known to many football followers as Clifford, said the name was the one his father regularly called him. He also said people in Nasarawa, where he grew up, knew him by the same name.
Speaking about the decision, Umoh explained that the change was both a tribute to his father and a way of recognising the streets and community that shaped him.
“Decided to change the name to honour my dad,” he said, according to Punch.
He added that Clifford was also the name his father normally used for him and the name by which people in his childhood neighbourhood recognised him.
He Played Through Grief
The tribute carries particular emotional significance because Umoh received news of his father’s death shortly before a decisive match against Osun United last season.
According to the midfielder, his elder brother called him after a training session to inform him of the loss. The news left him grieving and uncertain about whether he should travel with the team for the important fixture.
Umoh said he withdrew to his balcony to process what had happened and consider his next step.
Despite his grief, he decided to play the match, believing he still had a responsibility to his teammates and the club’s promotion ambitions.
He informed his coach, Jeff, about his father’s death and made it clear that he intended to feature in the game.
“I told myself that I still need to play the match, so I went ahead and informed coach Jeff,” he recalled.
Umoh said the team eventually won the match and secured promotion, making the occasion especially memorable for him.
“We went there, we won the match, we got promoted. I was the happiest person that day on that pitch,” he said.
A Tribute For The Top Flight
Before Sporting Lagos completed its registration arrangements for the new Nigeria Premier Football League campaign, Umoh discussed the name change with his siblings.
He subsequently adopted Clifford on his jersey, turning the name into a lasting tribute to the father who supported and encouraged his football ambitions.
Umoh is now wearing the number 10 shirt for Sporting Lagos in Nigeria’s top division, carrying the name associated with his father and his upbringing onto the national football stage.
Keeping His Father’s Memory Alive
For Umoh, the name change represents more than a difference on the back of a shirt. It connects his professional football career with his family, his childhood and the person who played an important role in his life.
As he continues his career with Sporting Lagos, the midfielder says he remains focused on achieving his targets while keeping his father’s memory close.
His story offers a personal reminder of the family sacrifices and emotional experiences that can sit behind a footballer’s public performances.
