After Stade De Reims played out a goalless draw against OGC Nice, Will Smith was understanding of Folarin Balogun as he showed him support despite missing an important penalty in the second forty-five minutes of action.
The 21-year-old missed the spot kick that would have told the direction the encounter would have gone if he hadn’t missed it.
Folarin Balogun is on loan from Arsenal FC in the English Premier League to Reims in the French Ligue 1, He has blossomed on all cylinders in the league.
He is presently the top scorer of the French Ligue 1 with fifteen (15) goals scored, a goal ahead of Jonathan David and former Arsenal forward, Alexandre Lacazette.
Balogun is two goals ahead of star forward Kylian Mbappe
Balogun is also two goals ahead of star forward Kylian Mbappe, Although he didn’t add to his numbers against the Nice side as he threw away the biggest chance that fell to Reims from the 18-yard box.
He attracted Jean-Clair Todibo and won the penalty kick for his side but he just couldn’t beat Kasper Schmeichel in goal for the Nice side who saved the ball nicely.
Stade De Reims manager, Will Smith, answering a question posed to him by a pressman spoke about the disappointment of Balogun for missing the Penalty but it’s part of the round leather game called football.
Will Smith statements on the miss of Folarin Balogun
Will smith said:
“Balogun is very disappointed. Very, very disappointed, but it happens, and I told him that at the end of the match. It’s not the end of the world. The best players in the world, be it Zinédine Zidane or Thierry Henry have missed a penalty at some point. It’s part of football,”
The manager of Reims further said:
“It’s a detail and one that we’ll try to correct. He is the first to recognise that, and he expects a lot of himself, and he wants to score goals. But it’s nothing too serious.”
The side tutored by Will Smith currently occupy tenth (10th) in the French top flight League and they are having an OK season by their standards.
Folarin Balogun was born in New York, United States Of America on the 3rd of July, 2001 and he emigrated to England when he was just two years old.
His parents are both Nigerians and one of the plans which the striker’s parents had was to put him in a football academy after they saw his desire and prospects, they figured he would become a fantastic athlete.
Balogun played for Sunday League side Aldersbrook which was his first steps towards becoming a professional footballer.
When he was 10 years old, Arsenal found him while playing for Aldersbrook. The team quickly moved to sign him before North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur would get him.
He hasn’t been able to get a consistent starting shirt with the Arsenal side but he is a young footballer developing nicely into his own.
