Super Falcons goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie has narrated the story of how she became a goalkeeper after playing as a striker at the beginning stage of her career.
The former Rivers Angels goal post protector disclosed she had not always been a goalkeeper until her coach then persuaded her to take the role.
She captures her early years to Eagles Tracker correspondent in an interview exposing how her goalkeeping career started.
Nnadozie, in 2012 as a young girl in Owerri played as a "top striker" but in her bid to help her team's goalkeeper who was tired, a talent in goalkeeping tapped.
"I have been a player right from childhood. I was a top striker and was so fast. I have so many skills in me that people do not know, but because I am always in goal people do not know that part about me.
"In 2012 in Owerri, our goalkeeper was so tired after we were losing by 11 goals to 2 against a male side, I went to the Coach and asked If I could help her and the Coach asked If I was confused. I told him I can try and he accepted later in my request.
"So, when I came in just two minutes to the end of the match I made two good saves and after the match, the Coach called me and told me he never knew I had this talent in me. He persuaded me after that, I refused, but I accepted later after he told me he can't take me to a tournament if I don't go as a goalkeeper as he can't drop the strikers in the team for me," She told Eagles tracker.
She has gone on to be an inspiration and a force to reckon with after becoming the youngest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet at the World Cup.
This feat thrills the 22-year-old as she discloses she feels great to have achieve the feat.
"I felt so good, so great, so happy and I never believed such much moment could happen in my life because in the Super Falcons we have so many goalkeepers, but I am just the smallest," The Paris FC goalkeeper expressed.
"Making the 23-man list and having such opportunity was great for me."
Nnadozie won league title, league Women's Cup with Rivers Angels, Women's African Championship with Nigeria and the All African Games.
By Uche Dozie