Nombe relieved to avoid the wrong paths in life

Sam Nombe has just signed a contract extension with MK Dons, but he knows life could have been a lot different.

Growing up in Croydon, south London, the 20-year-old was surrounded my several other budding young players eager to make a name for themselves in the professional game. However, not everyone made that choice.

On Sunday night, a 17-year-old was stabbed to death on a bus in the area, and Nombe knows things could have been significantly different for him had he not chosen football.

"I grew up with many other talents and it's great to see so many of them go on to play in the professional game," he said. "That said, the society and the community doesn't always allow you to progress to be the best you can be. You can easily be led down the wrong path and I'm so glad that that didn't happen to me."