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!!