In this inspiring piece which she shared on her
instagram page, former Falcon's player Chichi Igbo
talks about how she overcame all obstacles, including
her father who didn't believe in her dreams of being a
footballer, and becoming the only Nigerian girl to go
pro internationally at the age of 16. Find the piece
below...
Give away jersey signed by myself and my
teammates. This is a special piece, won
championships and scored a lot of goals in this
jersey, I cld've decided to save it as a souvenir
but I want to inspire someone, touch some's life,
give hope or just put a smile on someone's face.
Let me tell y'all something you don't know about
me, something to remember whenever it seems to
hard to keep pushing, when you feel the world is
on your shoulders. I was that girl that was told by
her Dad that she'd never amount to nothing if
soccer is what I wanted to waste my time with.
Got my ass whooped everyday by him, but next day I'm
out there with the boys doing what I burn for. Villagers
started talking cos hanging around boys was not
normal but all that was on deaf ears. I was that girl on
the street, kicking my orange, tied bags, basically any
round object I cld find, barefooted. I was that girl that
walked miles to and from school barefooted on the hot
sand and burning sun, patched up uniforms, come home
to no food. Worked at the farm everyday so we could
eat, walked miles from the stream with water on my
head so we could have water. I was that girl that was
used as a slave by the so called "bigger players"
running errands, shopping, washing their cloths while
they were napping, getting their rest before the next
training session.
But I'am the only Nigerian girl to go pro overseas at
16. my struggle didn't end there but life got a lot
better. What I'm trying to say is dreams do come true,
you may start all the way from the bottom, the road
may not be smooth, you have people try to discourage
you from following your dream but don't let anything or
anyone stop you, stay focused and follow your heart.
Stand firm and stay pushing, let them be your
motivation. I'm glad my Dad was alive to see me
become what he never imagined. I shaded tears the day
he told me he was proud of me. I thank him for being
my motivation cos I worked my ass off just to prove
him wrong. DON'T EVER STOP BELIEVING IN
YOURSELVES!!