SAMSON'S GOING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH

Striker proving his worth to team - and his mum - to help U's shine

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SAMSON TOVIDE is keeping the pressure of the League Two promotion race at bay by coaching his own Sunday League team.

But the 21-year-old striker almost missed out on the chance to star for Colchester altogether - because his mum wasn't convinced he was cut out to be a footballer.

Tovide has progressed through the ranks at Colchester and is now a pivotal part of a team pushing for promotion to League One under brothers Danny and Nicky Cowley.

He joined the U's at 15 after being released by Leyton Orient.

But he only got to that point after secretly joining a team when his mum went on holiday.

Tovide explained: "My journey started in primary school, but my mum didn't think I was good at football, so she didn't let me play for a team for a long time!