Former National U17 player, Izuchukwu Nwachukwu said his younger brother, Arinze Nwachukwu who plays for Fenerbahçe SC made him fall in love with the game of volleyball.
Nwachukwu told www.aclsports.com that he became inspired to play the game after watching players like Seiyefa Dikiyai, Ibrahim Adamu and some other Plateau state veterans.
He said the advice given to him by some of these senior players played vital roles in his volleyball life.
The National U19 player said, “I started playing volleyball when I graduated from secondary school. I was not having interest in the game at first until my younger brother Arinze Nwachukwu told me to escort him to the stadium where he was training.
“When we got to the training ground, Arinze introduced me to his coach (Ejimbe) and he enlightened me about the game. Coach Ejimbe as he is popularly called told me I have a very good potential that if I take the game serious I would go places. The statement by the coach motivated me to start playing and I must tell you that the game has been sweet since I started playing it”.
“My younger brother inspired me from the beginning and made me love volleyball. I always wished I play like some of our senior players at Plateau state like Pastor Courage (aka MOG), Seiyefa Dikiyai (shango), senior Ibrahim Adamu, senior Goddy and many of them including my brother who plays at Fenerbahçe.
“I will never forget what all these people I have mentioned told me and the training they gave me; it really played a great role in my volleyball life”, he told www.aclsports.com
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense (NSCDC) player said, “My game has improved since joining the NSCDC volleyball team. Wearing the jersey alone is a privilege and a morale booster because of the caliber of players in the team. It is a great honour to be among senior players who have represented the country in the past while some are still playing for the senior national team”.
He said representing Nigeria at the U17, U19 and U21 is a great honour.
Nwachukwu said, “Really, the feeling of representing Nigeria at three African tournaments is awesome. I am grateful to be among the players that represented our great country Nigeria. Whenever I think about it I feel overwhelmed because I know they are a lot of players in our country and to be selected to represent our country is mind blowing”.
