I wanted to be a footballer – KMJ

Media personality and entrepreneur Kpekpo Maxwell Justice, popularly known as KMJ, has revealed a surprising side of his past, sharing that before becoming a well-known figure in radio and television, football was his true passion.

He disclosed this while speaking on The Career Trail program, aired on Joy Learning TV and JoyNews.

“I never dreamed of being in radio or television when I was growing up. It was always football. My dad supported me fully and bought me all the football gear I needed because he knew I was good.

“I captained the teams at the ages of 12, 14, and 17 back in Obuasi. Athletics was also part of my school life from basic through junior and senior high school,” KMJ shared.

Despite his talent and early ambitions on the pitch, KMJ said his career took a different direction after high school.

“I was very good at football, but after senior high, I decided to quit and pursue radio instead. My dad was really upset when I told him,” he highlighted.

KMJ attributed this career shift to the environment he grew up in, where radio and television played a major role in daily life. He recounted how his father’s passion for this medium influenced him deeply.

“My dad was an avid fan of radio and TV, often watching the BBC, listening to DW, and reading newspapers. Every morning, I woke up to sounds from the TV or radio, which gradually sparked my interest,” KMJ noted.

Gradually, due to frequent exposure, KMJ was drawn toward the media.

“I became very passionate about doing radio or letting people hear my voice, because I realised that I had a nice voice. So I decided to quit football,” he added.

Fear of injury also played a key role in his decision to switch careers. He described a traumatic experience on the field that made him reconsider.

“I was scared of getting hurt. I saw firsthand how brutal football injuries could be. One of our captains had his leg shattered on the pitch, and we rushed him to the best hospitals to try and save it. That scared me deeply. But I never told my dad because I didn’t want him to think I was a coward,” KMJ admitted.

After reflecting on his future, KMJ felt confident that radio was the safer and more promising path.

“I told myself, I’m not from a wealthy family, so if I got seriously injured playing football, what would happen to me? Since I was passionate about using my voice and working in the media, I knew I had to follow that path. So, I made the bold decision to quit football,” he stressed.

Last week, we introduced the 9th episode of The Career Trail New Edition, diving into the early life of KMJ. Stay glued to your TV sets as we explore the second part of the interview, which focuses on his journey as an entrepreneur.

The episode will air this Saturday, June 21, at 4 pm on Joy Learning TV and at 6:30 pm on JoyNews.

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