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The Irish Sun

Damien Duff was totally different at Shelbourne to what media thought – he helped boost my hopes of Premier League dream

SHELBOURNE starlet Raymond Offor idolised Sergio Buschets, learned from Damien Duff, and wants to emulate Andrew Omobamidele with Ireland. The 17-year-old has been moving through the ranks at Tolka Park since making the move from Bohemians in 2023. Advertisement 6 Raymond Offor of Shelbourne during the Sports Direct Men's FAI Cup match against Fairview Rangers Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile 6 He idolised both Lionel Messi and Sergio Buschets Credit: David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images 6 He cited Andrew Omobamidele as his Ireland inspiration Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile After initial struggles with injuries and the improvement required at the Shels U17s, the Dubliner has grown in stature and captained the team last year. Such is his burgeoning reputation that he has been training with the club's senior side and made his debut in the FAI Cup win over Fairview Rangers . And having been capped by the Republic of Ireland U18s, Offor is reveling in his dream becoming a reality . He told SunSport of his debut: "It was a proud moment for me. Advertisement Read More n Shelbourne "It is what want to do as a little kid, to make your pro debut and have your name on the back of the jersey ." After starting football when he was seven, he followed in the footsteps of older brothers Mourice Jr - named after his dad - and Eric. Balbriggan FC was his schoolboy club and he modelled his own game on that of Spain . He explained: "I saw a team that was my age and my dad went up to the manager and asked if I could play. Advertisement Most read in Football Live Blog Live Blog Exclusive "They were playing a match so they gave me the jersey and that was my first memory of playing football. "At the time, Barcelona were a super team and everybody was Messi this, Messi that, but I always found a liking to Busquets. Shelbourne ace Greg Costello recalls feeling homesick after daunting move to QPR as a teen "I felt like that is what I wanted to be like on the pitch. "I knew myself that I wasn't going to be a winger or a striker , so I always looked at Busquets." Advertisement That's not to say that By the time Offor started playing for Balbriggan in 2014, the Argentinian had won six league titles, two Copa Del Reys, three Champions Leagues and four Ballon d'Ors. "I said I wanted to be a footballer. Since I wasn't able to be one, it is lovely to see my son following my dream." Mourice Offor, Raymond's dad His highlight reel was easily viewed on He added: "I did have a liking to Messi at first and, when I was younger, I was a lot smaller so I played on the right wing for a good while. Advertisement "I think I played a game while I was at Balbriggan. "I dropped back into centre-back and I remember all the parents applauding me. "If I was to pursue football, which I will, I will probably go for centre-back because it suits my build and my athleticism and all that." FAMILY GAME Motivation was never far away for Raymond at home. Advertisement His dad Mourice used to play football in his home country of Nigeria before he and his wife emigrated to Ukraine in 1997. After running a Russian language course for a few years, they moved to Ireland in 2003 and spent two years living in Mayo. The dad-of-four said: "I had that vision of finding myself there one day. "When I went to family would be in Ireland. Advertisement "I said before that it is the best decision I ever made in my life, to come to Ireland." He continued to play football in this time, including for a club in Cloonfad in Suffice to say, football played a significant role in how the cab driver raised his kids such that he can live vicariously through his youngest son. Mourice insisted: "I am a happy dad. Advertisement "When I was growing up, my uncle called me on the phone and asked each one of us what we wanted to be. "I said I wanted to be a footballer. Since I wasn't able to be one, it is lovely to see my son following my dream. "It would be a dream for me to see him pull on the senior green jersey. It would be a very glorious day for me and my family." TOUGH YEAR With his Advertisement While he played for the Gypsies U15s, making the step up to U17s with their Dublin rivals made for a tough transition exacerbated by ill-timed injury. The secondary school student said: "When I moved from Bohs U15, there are players that are a year older than you and they have been in the squad a year before, so they had to go through that struggle as well. "You have to be twice as good as the players to get in, especially as a younger player. "I got two ankle injuries that year and it set me back a good bit because the time I was meant to come in, that was when I got injured. Advertisement "That was a really tough part of my life because I was really considering is football really for me?" 6 Shelbourne players who made their debut, from left, Aaron Moloney, Cillian Ryan, Derin Adewale, Raymond Offor, James Bailey, Dan Ring and James Roche after the Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup second round match against Fairview Rangers Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile Offor revealed he came close to a return to Bohemians before well-timed word of encouragement from management. "My managers came up to me near the end of the season and they were like, 'we have a plan for you here at Shels' and I stuck to it. Advertisement "Near the end of the season, we had our final game against Treaty and that was to win the league. "The centre back that was playing had tonsilitis that day so I had to fill in for him and they just told me that day because he told them he wouldn't be playing the day before. "It was kind of a debut because that was one of my only starts that season. "I ended up playing very well that season and my managers were very happy with me. Advertisement "We ended up going to Hull a week after and I played very well that game and they were very happy with me." MADE OF DUFF STUFF The teenager has not looked back since then. In 2024, he captained the Reds as they won the league and cup double. All the while, Offor was starting to work his way into the senior panel and trained with the Shelbourne panel. Advertisement Given their eventual winning of the Premier Division title that year, it was no surprise that Offor did not make his senior debut that year. However, working under next step technically while testing his character under his expectation and scrutiny. He said: "You have to remember that it is a lifestyle, it is not just a sport. You have to put everything and anything you have got to be playing men's football. "When Advertisement "I did have a liking to Messi at first and, when I was younger, I was a lot smaller so I played on the right wing for a good while." Raymond Offor "He was the type of manager that, if you are doing very bad, he is going to say it to your face and he is going to make sure you remember. "I think, if anything that has only benefitted me. "Before I went into the first team, my first touch was awful compared to the standard you need in the first team and he used to point it out in front of the whole group every single time. "I would get very embarrassed about that but it made me feel I can't have that anymore. I don't want to be embarrassed anymore. Advertisement "I don't think he is anything like the media. I think he is more of a people's person off camera. "He will do anything to support you and get you through what you are going through. "On the pitch, you can't ask for anything better. Looking at his career and the players he played with and experiences, he can only give you good advice." 6 Shelbourne assistant manager Joey O'Brien and manager Damien Duff, right, celebrate with the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division trophy Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile Advertisement The standards on the training ground brought by Duff were maintained by his assistant Joey O'Brien when he succeeded him in June. "I really like Joey as well. Just like Damien, he will do drills with you. "You are getting an extra 15 or 20 minutes of individual session to work on them little individual parts. "That is something he taught me as well, about working on those little details of your game that is important for first team." Advertisement GREEN SHOOTS His work with the U17s nonetheless earned him a call-up to the He won his first cap as a substitute in a 2-0 friendly loss to "That was the proudest moment for me because I have always looked at Ireland as that is what I wanted. Even over a professional debut. "I remember I was buzzing because even when I was playing for Balbriggan, I would see the likes of Andrew Omobamidele playing for Ireland at a young age and. to look at them, I would be like that is what I wanted to do." Advertisement Offor is one of a number of stories of talented youngsters coming through the Shelbourne and The work put into his progression will be documented in the new Football Families series, the first episode of which will air on Since his Ireland debut, Offor has gone from strength to strength and, on July 19, made his senior Shels debut in the 4-0 win over Fairview Rangers in the FAI Cup. He has been on the bench for League of Ireland games and the home legs against Linfield and Qarabag in the Champions Leagues. Advertisement With teeth into the highest level of the game having relished the appetiser. "As a kid, you always want to be playing in the "If it is not the Premier League, then the "Obviously, you have the big things of playing in the Advertisement "I want to experience what it is like to have that buzz and that is something that stays with you forever, playing in the Champions League." 6 Raymond Offor of Shelbourne before the UEFA Champions League First Qualifying Round second leg match against Linfield