Calvin Chinedu Ughelumba (Calvin Bassey) reveals how his father abandoned the family when he was six years old

Calvin Chinedu Ughelumba (Calvin Bassey) reveals how his father abandoned the family when he was six years old

Fulham defender Calvin Bassey has explained why he no longer uses his fathers surname and chooses to represent his mother on the pitch instead.

Super Eagles defender Cavlin Bassey has revealed the regret of growing up without his father, after telling The Athletic the tale of how his family’s patriarch abandoned them early on.

Bassey was born in Italy to Igbo Nigerian parents and remained there, living with both his parents until he was six years old when the Fulham star reveals his father left the family, causing the burden of raising him and his brother to fall on his mother.

Speaking in an exclusive interview, Bassey was asked about his estranged father, and told The Athletic, “He’s just not in my life — we lived with him but that was when I was really young. Since I was six, it has been Mum and us boys.”

Bassey further revealed that he was grateful to his mother for her sacrifices in getting the rest of the family to England and working hard to give them a platform that has helped them flourish.

Although the former Ajax and Rangers defender has the name Bassey written on his jerseys, he also revealed that this has not always been the case since his father’s name, “Ughelumba” was the more commonly used surname.

Bassey revealed the reason why he decided to change his surname officially saying, “I knew that if I got the chance to put my name on the back of a shirt I wanted it to be my mum’s name — my way of saying thank you.”

The Premier League star also revealed that he bought his mother a house when he signed his first professional deal with Leicester City, and recalls her reaction to the gesture, saying, “She [his mother] was praying and jumping up and down. It was disbelief, but I was happy to put a smile on her face as she sacrificed a lot for us boys.”

Since making the ranks at Leicester City, Bassey has gone on to play for Rangers, Ajax, and Fulham, while also becoming a regular with the Super Eagles of Nigeria, no doubt bringing more joy and pride to his mother Ebere Bassey.