Joe has gone from a kickabout with his footballing mates to the elite of Europe
Joe Aribo has come a long way from the days when he was trying mazy dribbles on apublicpark.
It’s a number of years since he took part in those kickabouts, but they might have played a part in his latest success.
The midfielder is currently looking forward to starring in the last-16 of the Europa League with Rangers.
Aribo played a massive role in helping the Ibrox side to progress by scoring an amazing equaliser against Braga in the first leg.
The sight of him dancing past countless opponents from the left-back position will live long in the memory of supporters.
Coming up with that wonder goal gave Rangers the platform to secure a victory with a 1-0 win in Wednesday’s return match in Portugal.
Aribo’s contribution didn’t surprise his old pals in London.
He said: “I got a lot of messages from friends and family after that goal.
“A lot of people said they were proud of me.
“One of my friends said to people that he had seen me doing that countless times – that made me laugh.
“I grew up in South London and played football all the time with my friends.
“We used to play a game where basically we were all against one another and it was last man standing.
“You had to keep the ball and dribble past people. If you scored, you went into the next round and then keep doing that until there was a winner.
“There could be about 15 to 20 guys playing against each other.
“Glen Kamara, who’s a team-mate at
Rangers, played in the games, as did Mickel Miller who is now at Hamilton Accies.
“Wilfried Zaha would be there sometimes as well, so there were a lot of good players.
“Doing it in the Europa League last-32 is a bit different to doing it against my friends, mind you.
“The game was huge and being able to it at that level was great.
“At the end I was just thinking: ‘Wow – I did that’.”
The 23-year-old turned out 39 times for Charlton Athletic last term.
The English Championship is regarded as a physically-demanding league because it is played over 46 matches.
However, Aribo’s outing in Braga was his 44th of the season in the light blue of Rangers.
Success in Europe and the domestic cups are a big test of a player’s fitness.
Aribo said: “At Charlton I was in the squad pretty much every single week.
“At Rangers you have to be in-form all the time if you want to play.
“Players dip in form, so sometimes you come out.
“The gaffer here knows how to get the best out of me.
“We play so many games, whereas at Charlton it was just most Saturday’s, so it was easier.
“Here it is pretty much two or three games in a week.
“I may not start a game and I am disappointed, but I have to remember they come thick and fast. I can’t start them all.
“I had to adapt to that and I feel I have done quite well here in my first season.
“There is a lot more to come from me. I know that.
“I would have liked to score a few more goals but, overall, I have done OK.”