Get Guardian on GoogleCaptain of the Nigeria’s U17 women’s team Flamingos, Harmony Chidi, has revealed that her mother initially opposed her ambition to become a footballer and wanted her to get married following the early death of her father.
Chidi, who led Nigeria to a historic FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup triumph in Morocco, said her late grandmother was instrumental in keeping her football dream alive before her foster father, Prince Chidi, took over the responsibility of supporting her career.
“My father died early, so, my mother wanted me to get married. It was my grandmother who stood by me and pushed me to play football. Unfortunately, my grandmother is late,’ Chidi told BBC Pidgin.
The Bayelsa Queens striker said her meeting with Prince Chidi, owner of her grassroots team, Imo Strikers, proved another turning point.
“It wasn’t easy until I met my foster father, Prince Chidi. He is the owner of my grassroots team, Imo Strikers, and he encouraged me, making sure that I achieve my dream,’ she said.
Chidi also opened up about the career-threatening injury that forced her to miss the previous edition of the U-17 Women’s World Cup, describing it as the most difficult period of her football journey.
“There is nothing that has been more difficult than my injury. It was an injury that killed the dream of many players in Nigeria. All my friends deserted me and it was tough. I even thought of an alternative plan,” she recalled.
However, she recovered to captain Nigeria to its first-ever U-17 Women’s World Cup title, with the Flamingos defeating Japan 2-1 in the final in Morocco.
The ambitious teenager has already set her sights on an even bigger future, naming Victor Osimhen, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Raphinha and former Nigeria striker Asisat Oshoala as players she hopes to emulate and surpass.
“I have like five players that I want to be like: Victor Osimhen, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Raphinha and Asisat Oshoala. I want to be greater than them,” she declared.
Culled from www.sportsNow.nr.coom
