NTI STEPS ON BIGGER STAGE
Glasto set completes family week
A GLASTONBURY performance and a move into fulltime football with York City – it’s been quite the week for the Nti family.
Daniel Nti put pen to paper on a two-year deal with the National League new boys on Tuesday after the Minstermen paid an undisclosed fee to sign him from Worcester City.
It’s an aim ticked off the 23year-old winger’s list, but he isn’t the only family member living his dream.
Older brother Rocky performed on the BBC Introducing Stage at the famous music festival last Friday.
“I’m so happy for him,” said Daniel, who has given up his day job in credit control to make the move to York.
“He deserves it too because he’s worked really hard.
“He performs indie-punk/rock music – not what you might expect.
“He just kept releasing music and he got a good following. He’s worked really hard to build himself up and it’s paying off
now. “I didn’t go to watch unfortunately because I was working, but I’ve up with it on the internet.
“It’s been a good few days for us and, hopefully, more to come. We’re really happy.”
Nti has been one of the National League North’s star performers since joining from Loughborough University three years ago.
In all, he scored 44 goals for the National League North club, including a memorable FA Cup strike against League One Scunthorpe United, and he felt now was the right time to progress.
“I had a great three years at Worcester City,” said Nti .
“We had our ups and downs in terms of league position, but we had some good FA Cup runs and it was good to be a part of that.
“All good things come to an end and I felt it was the right time to step up.
“In life, if you work hard then you reap the benefits from it.
“At Worcester I was working really hard and scoring goals.
Combined
“Hopefully I can replicate that at York and hopefully do even better. “I’m going to work harder than I ever have and, hopefully, we can achieve the best for the club and myself.” Nti is not underselling the graft he has put in for his York City chance. He started out at Newport Pagnell Town, before moving to Loughborough, where he combined foot-caught ball with studying for a psychology degree.
He also has the inspiration of childhood friend Jeffrey Schlupp, who has just won the Premier League with Leicester City.
And it meant Ntil got the chance to see English football’s great underdog story up close when he was allowed access to the pitch during the Foxes celebrations with the trophy.
“We’ve all been best friends since we were young after he moved from Germany,” Nti said.
“We played in a Milton Keynes league, so we’ve always been together – he was my rival!
“I’m just trying to catch him up now!
“It shows it can happen to people around you and it’s not a farfetched dream.
“It’s good because it builds up your character and makes you want to go for it.”