Veronica Chika Iweanya is a bundle of pleasure to be with. At all times smiling and full of pleasure, the 24 years previous shared some wonderful tales about her life throughout an Instagram Stay session. Presently based mostly in Lille, Northern France, the Nigerian basketball star has come a good distance in each profession and sports activities.
After graduating with a First Class Bachelor’s diploma in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the celebrated Covenant College, Ota Ogun State, Nigeria, in 2017, she traveled to France for her Masters in 2019 and continued her love relationship with basketball. Standing at 183cm (6 ft), the Lagos born basketball participant shared her love for the sport. A recreation she developed a ardour for because of the need of gamers and coaches to assist her develop the talents wanted to excel within the sport.
A defining second in her basketball profession could be on the Giants of Africa Worldwide camp in 2018 the place she was chosen as a part of the highest 50 women to attend its first-ever feminine camp in Nigeria. The Masai Ujiri initiative sponsored by Nike and the Toronto Raptors president introduced high coaches from internationally who guided the campers on each basketball and life abilities. She says that Masai would all the time inform the children to Dream Massive. However what caught to her was the mantra “I’m a Big!” that was echoed all through the camp. Up to now, she says she nonetheless says it as a mantra earlier than each recreation, check, interview, and so forth.
On the benefit of mixing her research and sporting actions, Veronica Chika Iweanya confessed how tough it was for her to adapt initially. The French language was a severe hindrance to her getting settled. It was so tough to cool down together with her basketball crew since all her classmates and teammates spoke in French. She was compelled to study French and her basketball coach rapidly got here to her rescue, devoting an hour earlier than every coaching day for that function. ‘The wonderful assist system I discovered round me made me to simply adapt so rapidly’
As she obtained a grip on the French language, issues started to ease a bit and so did her efficiency on the basketball courtroom. An added incentive was when she got here in touch with Nigerian nationwide basketball participant Evelyn Akhator who coincidentally signed for French basketball side- Flammes Carolo. The Ardennes based mostly crew signed the thrilling middle ahead in 2019. Veronica, whose ambition is to play for The D’Tigress, has since developed an expert relationship with Evelyn Akhator. She sees her as a mentor and an individual who has paid her dues within the recreation.
Sports activities has gotten a fair proportion of racism and Veronica confirmed from her private expertise that she has been fortunate to not expertise it in France. Humorous sufficient, throughout away video games together with her basketball crew, (She discovered herself fouling out extra typically than after they play at house) fouls are referred to as on her extra typically than after they play at house.
When requested concerning the contentious difficulty of equal pay between female and male athletes, she expressed her displeasure on the disparity as a result of if feminine basketball gamers are anticipated to dunk for instance, then they need to be paid equally like their male counterparts. She sees no cause why male athletes ought to be paid greater, in as a lot as females even must undergo harder terrain of their profession and sports activities.
On the plans by the French Authorities to ease lockdown starting from on Monday the eleventh of Could, and the potential for sporting actions returning to regular, Veronica expressed her candid view, saying she would have most well-liked the pandemic has cleared out utterly earlier than such strikes are applied. Sports activities like basketball are contact-based and the chance stage is excessive, so it will be good for security causes to make sure gamers do not get uncovered to such excessive danger.
It is easy to call your favourite participant, particularly when that participant has been an ideal position mannequin for you. Evelyn Akhator is her favourite participant (Together with her penchant for 10 factors and 10 rebounds) every recreation, Veronica confessed that she drastically influenced her fashion of play as she additionally averaged double-doubles in her faculty profession. She additionally talked about her resiliency and psychological toughness as key abilities she admired from the Nigerian Basketball Star. whereas the Feminine nationwide crew of Nigeria- The D’Tigress stays her favourite crew. She reminisced on tales of her throughout her undergraduate years, making her total workplace the place she interned watch a reside D’Tigress recreation throughout workplace hours the place Sarah Ogoke shot a three-pointer to win on the dying seconds of the Afrobasket match a couple of years in the past!
At the moment taking part in with Stade Roubaisien Basket that’s competing within the French Federation of Basketball (FFBB), she joyfully shared the information about finishing her grasp’s program at EDHEC Enterprise Faculty, Lille, France. The journey has not been simple, however in a message to her followers, she expressed optimism about attaining her targets to play with the feminine nationwide crew of Nigeria- The D’Tigress, a sentiment I echoed based mostly on the truth that she has the potential to excel on the highest stage in profession and sports activities.
One wonderful reality about this gifted basketball star is that she would have opted for soccer if she hadn’t fallen for her past love. It’s possible you’ll be questioning what place she would go for in a soccer pitch. Protection, in fact, was the response. Not tough to determine figuring out attackers could be contending with a robust 6 ft protection stalwart weighing at 67kg. Not probably the most thrilling prospect for even probably the most formidable attacker. For now, the love romance between Veronica and basketball continues. Tomorrow is full of potentialities and hopefully one will get to see Veronica Chika Iweanya placing on the attractive inexperienced white jersey of The D’Tigress!
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