Following his permanent signing from West Ham earlier this month, Gideon Kodua recalled the proud moment he told his parents the news of his transfer and the special reaction from his father.
“You know when I first told my mum and dad, I remember my dad calling me and he just burst out into song,” the Town forward grinned, unable to hold down any laughter.
“He sang his happy song and afterwards he just said: 'Son, I am proud of you, keep going, everyone is so happy for you'.”
The 21-year-old is speaking on a visit to his older brother Joel's Box Up gym in Ilford, East London, where the 29-year-old trains daily as he looks to maintain a professional boxing record of 11 wins from 11 fights.
Asked to describe his sibling in the latest edition of our LTFC+ Originals series, the young wide player replied efficiently, simply stating: “Hard worker. Champion.”
Ringside by his brother, Gideon looked on with that familial sense of admiration and pride. Without needing to say it, but doing so anyway, the younger Kodua brother immediately pointed out the sporty nature of his family.
Joel, with three belts currently to his name, and Gideon, who is currently Towns joint top goal scorer in the 25/26 League One season, epitomise both the work ethic of their family and the jovial brotherly bond that the five Kodua boys share.
“Say the name of the belts,” Joel jumps in, kickstarting the competitive edge that drives both brothers forward.
“Southern Area, Silver Commonwealth and English – it runs in the family, man!" he proclaims, proudly.
“I’ve done boxing training before, and I know he wouldn’t hack a football training session,” Gideon retorts, ensuring that the fierce battle to determine who can out-sport the other continues for a while longer.
As the two bicker, leaning against the ropes of the ring, the good-natured ribbing progressed to who could outlast the other in their respective professions.
“The difference is, I have someone throwing punches at my face!”
“And I have 11 players on the other team trying to kill me, when the ball is put in behind everyone is darting at me!”
Immediately, Joel is sent backwards in a fit of laughter. For better or for worse, the two are separated as the boxer gets back to training and Gideon gets back on track with the interview.
“There’s five of us, so we were always going to grow up competitive, it is normal,” Gideon explained of life with Emmanuel, 35, Lloyd, 33, Joel and 26-year-old Stephen.
“At the end of the day, it’s just love, you know? We all want each other to do well, we all feel inspired by each other.
“Even after he’d won his last fight, he was in the gym the very next day. The belts don’t just come from nowhere, they come from hard work. It’s the same as me. You know you have to be the best because there’s always going to be someone coming for your place.”
Just as the interview is getting back on track, Joel intervened, and while his younger brother is quick to burst out with a howl of laughter at the interruption, it becomes evident that big brother is contributing a very serious answer to the question of where their work ethic comes from.
“I think it all comes from mum and dad,” Joel responded from behind the enormous punching bag, with it being an exhausting and exhilarating experience watching him work.
“That’s true actually,” Gideon confirmed, and with the conversation now turning to their parents, the previously silly and energetic brothers become attentive and respectful, for obvious reasons.
“Mum and dad are hardworking, very hardworking. Five of us grew up in Custom House, a very rough area.
“We are all doing well in life, it is a blessing, when we do get in the ring or the pitch, it is all about giving one hundred percent every time.”
Despite an ensuing argument about whether the two had actually fought one another, Gideon was keen to also highlight the support felt by his other brothers.
“Yeah, they are all very supportive. My eldest brother Emmanuel, he calls me every single day, no matter what my mood is or how I’m doing, he is always there and takes time out of his day to check up on me.
“It really shows how much love there is in this family and even though I am the youngest, they certainly don’t treat me like it. They have all made mistakes and that’s how they know how to guide me, because they have had that life experience.”
When put on the spot to describe his brother’s best strength, it didn’t take Joel long to narrow it down. While it had been mentioned and attributed to the wider family, Joel wanted to specifically link the youngest Kodua sibling to having an exceptional attitude.
“His biggest strength is his work ethic; from a young age I have seen him work hard and graft," says Joel.
“Especially when things were not going his way he would always keep his head down and continue working, he has a great ability to shut out that noise that might keep him down.”
With the chance still there for promotion and silverware before the end of the season, Gideon will be calling on the support of his ever-competitive siblings to help keep him fighting fit, and his wider football family of Town fans will be behind him all the way.
“I knew that I needed to join somewhere that felt like a family. I feel like every time I go to The Brache, I know I am going to laugh and have a good time, but I am also going to improve,” Gideon expressed, smiling warmly.
“The fans are so important, man – when they get going, we get going. They are the 12th man and we need them.”
Words by: Liam Wilmot
