top of page
Writer's pictureadeola bankole

Chidi Harmony, Ramota Kareem and their Flamingos Teammates Itching To Take The World By Storm


The list is out of players to prosecute Nigeria's U-17 Women’s World Cup campaign in Dominican Republic from this month. I believe most of these young girls will do themselves proud in the tournament.

 

It's always tricky assessing players in U-17 level because, physically, mentally and psychologically, they are not fully cooked (not even close). In years and decades to come, some of the U-17 strikers will end up as defenders and midfielder will become wingers with centre-backs ending up as centre forwards. Only goalkeepers seem destined to continue from where they started.

 

Being in their formative years, it is better to always appreciate their raw skills and talents and ability to stay the course by playing to their coaches' instructions with focus, flair and fortitude.

 

That said, 2 players I am particularly looking forward to savoring are: Harmony Chidi (Imo Strikers) and Ramotalahi Kareem (Honey Badgers).

 


Chidi Harmony is a star in the making for sure. Even at this level, she has that uncanny ability to grab fans' attention delightfully and lock it in place for the duration whenever she on the ball.

 

What she has, call it football-charisma or pitch-presence, she has in abundance. Her technical prowess is undeniable both viscerally and rationally.

 

She has that captivating capacity to allow her movement on grass and contact with the ball to crystalise this visually poetic, pitch-perfect ballet of attacking eloquence and offensive ruthlessness in front of goal which - even at this level - is beyond critique. The cameras love her and us content creators adore her. Not so many players come even close.

 

I can't rave about this girl enough with her girl-next-door demeanor in interviews and also on the pitch endearing me to her the more.

 


The last time a Nigerian was top scorer in the Under-17 Women World Cup qualifiers was in 2018 when Rasheedat Ajibade shared the accolade with Egypt's Noha Tarek on 8 goals each. Up stepped Chidi Harmony this year with a whooping 12 goals to her nom-de-plume.


Unlike Ajibade in 2018, this selfish dangerous damsel will not share the top slot with anyone as the second placed players only managed 8 goals and the third placed players (including her Nigerian colleagues of Ramota Kareem, Shakirat Moshood and Peace Effiong) lagging far further behind with 3 goals each.

 


To Ramota Kareem, I love and adore her game dearly. Her poise, grace and elegance on the ball with neat first touches, creatively-incisive movements and pitch-perfect passes wrapped up in all-round confidence are a joy to behold.


But she worries me greatly because she seems to allow the moment to get to her head thereby playing to the gallery. Her confidence and boldness easily veers into unwanted territories of over-confidence and carelessness.


If she can keep her excesses under leash, she may well emerge contender of player of the tournament. First off, she has to convince her coach that she has enough "seriousness" to warrant a place in the starting line up of team for her potentials to be seen and to flourish.

 

Again, good luck to the Flamingos - we are rooting for you all. Go and do Nigeria proud.

18 views0 comments

Comments


bottom of page