Nigerian youngster Nnaoma Bede Opara is currently one of the talking points at Portuguese Primeria Liga side, Grupo Desportivo de Chaves – commonly known as Chaves.
The 18-year-old was recruited into the club’s juvenile team but his commanding presence in the heart of the team’s defence has seen him being dragged into the Team B within a relatively short period.
“My time here at Chaves has been very interesting and I really thank God that everything is going well,” stated Opara, a protégé from the modest Brighter Tomorrow Football located in Umuekwune Ngor-Okpala, Imo State. “I want to say a big thank you to Mr. Emeka Darlington Ariwa who is the president and the founder of Brighter Tomorrow that facilitated my trial to FC Porto. When Porto rejected me, I was taken to Chavez where I have been able to prove myself.”
In Opara, there is indeed some blessing in some disappointments and he enthused that being rejected at some point in his career has really fired his adrenalin.
He said: “ The day I will never forget was the day a coach pushed me out of his team because he never believed in my career and I suffered same when I went to FC Porto; but things like that don’t bother me again.
“I have had the opportunity of playing in the same team with the likes of David Enogela and Ernest Agenor who were part of the team that won the FIFA U-17 World Cup with the Golden Eaglets in 2015 and that shows the kind of quality that I possess too.
“Coming to Chaves has really improved my game and I want to thank Coach Vitor Gamito. Already, I have played nine matches for the youth side and four matches for Team B. It’s interesting because I only came to Portugal this year.
“Another day I can’t forget was the day I travelled to Europe because it was like a dream to me but I thank God because I’m here to do what I love; football is my life.
“One of the things that make me happy is playing football and whenever I remember I have training or match, I always feel so happy. In fact, I only dream about football and love the game so much.”
Opara has played all his life in the defensive position and revealed he wishes to model his game after Thiago Silva, Giorgio Chiellini, as well as former African Footballer of the Year, Yaya Toure.
“My role models are Thiago Silva, the captain of PSG and Brazil,” revealed Opara, a basketball freak. “I also like Giorgio Chiellini who plays for Juventus. I picked Silva and Chiellini because they are some of the best defenders in the world and I cherish their style of playing.
“ I also cherish Yaya Toure so much because he is a business-minded player, calm and so humble and I wish I can combine all the fine attributes of these three players.”
Like many notable African players in Europe, Opara had to fight against the stereotype in order to realise his dream of playing football.
“Choosing football as a career was not easy at the beginning because my parents were not in my support, but they later recognised that football is my God-given talent and they decided to give me their full support. I’m happy they gave their blessings and I know the sky is my limit.
“I just want to concentrate on my career at Chaves and I pray for other opportunities with the club as well as the opportunity of playing for any of our national teams. I’m still 18 and I’m looking forward you a very bright future,” Opara noted.