Sporting Lagos Midfielder Victor Umoh reveals emotional reason behind wearing Clifford on his shirt

Sporting Lagos midfielder Victor Umoh has revealed that wearing the name Clifford on his shirt is a tribute to his late father, who inspired his football career and was one of his biggest supporters.

The midfielder, known to many football fans as Clifford, explained that the decision to use the name was deeply personal.

It honours his father, who regularly called him Clifford, while also reflecting the identity he built growing up in Nasarawa.

Umoh’s tribute carries added emotional significance because he received news of his father’s death just hours after a training session ahead of a crucial promotion-deciding match against Osun United last season.

The Nigerian midfielder said the decision to change the name on his shirt was a way of keeping his father’s memory alive while representing the community where he grew up.

“Decided to change the name to honour my dad,” Umoh said. “From Victor to Clifford, Clifford is also my name, the name my dad normally calls me. So, I changed the name to honour my dad, and also the streets, because where I grew up in Nasarawa, everybody calls me Clifford, everybody knows me as Clifford.”

The name has since become more than a familiar nickname.

For Umoh, it represents a personal connection to his father and the streets that helped shape his identity as a footballer.

Umoh recalls playing through the pain of losing his father

The midfielder also opened up about the difficult circumstances surrounding his father’s death, recalling how he received the news after completing a training session before Sporting Lagos’ important fixture against Osun United.

According to Umoh, his elder brother called to inform him of the loss, leaving him devastated at a time when the team was pursuing promotion.

Overwhelmed by grief, he withdrew to his balcony to spend time alone and consider what to do next.

He faced a difficult choice between stepping away from football to process the tragedy and continuing with the team as it prepared for a match that could determine its season.

Despite the emotional burden, Umoh decided he would still play.

He explained that he informed his coach, Jeff, about the death before making himself available for the game.

“I told myself that I still need to play the match, so I went ahead and informed coach Jeff,” he recounted.

“I told him that I lost my dad… Then I told him, like, ‘I’m still going to the Osun game.’ We went there, we won the match, we got promoted. I was the happiest person that day on that pitch.”

Sporting Lagos went on to win the match against Osun United and secure promotion, giving the midfielder a moment of happiness amid a period of profound personal loss.

Umoh described himself as the happiest person on the pitch that day, reflecting the importance of the victory and the emotional significance of achieving the team’s objective.

A tribute rooted in family and identity

Umoh’s decision to use Clifford on his jersey was not simply a change of name for footballing purposes.

It was also a way of preserving the bond he shared with his father.

The name was the one his father used when addressing him, making it a lasting reminder of their relationship.

It was also the name by which people in his Nasarawa community knew him.

By carrying it onto the football pitch, the midfielder has connected his personal history with his professional career, ensuring that the name remains part of his journey in the game.

His story also reflects the difficult balance footballers sometimes face between personal circumstances and their responsibilities to their teams.

In Umoh’s case, the loss came just before a fixture with major consequences for Sporting Lagos, but he chose to continue playing.

Umoh targets success in Nigeria’s top flight

After helping Sporting Lagos secure promotion, Umoh has turned his attention to the challenges of competing in the Nigeria Premier Football League.

The midfielder has taken the number 10 shirt and will continue to wear the name Clifford as he seeks to make an impact in the country’s top division.

His decision to retain the name ensures that his father’s memory remains closely tied to his football career.

It also reflects the influence of his upbringing in Nasarawa, where the name became part of his identity.

Umoh has consulted his siblings over his registration details and the decision to carry the name into the new campaign.

With those arrangements settled, he is focused on achieving his targets with Sporting Lagos.

For the midfielder, playing at the highest level of Nigerian domestic football offers an opportunity to continue pursuing his ambitions while remembering the person who encouraged him along the way.

Every time he takes to the pitch wearing Clifford on his back, the name will serve as a reminder of his father’s influence, his roots in Nasarawa and the difficult journey that brought him to this stage of his career.