Japanese midfielder, Joel Chima Fujita has opened up on blessings he’s being able to enjoy owing to his Nigerian root.
The 21-year-old player was born in Japan to a Nigerian father and a Japanese mother. And owing to his versatility and resilience in the midfield he got contracted with Yokohama Marinos FC.
And as a teenager he has featured for the Japanese team against Nigeria as far back as in 2019. Then, it was during a FIFA U-17 world cup preparatory match. And in the said match, he bossed the midfield, making life difficult for Nigerian defenders with his defense-breaking passes.
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Interestingly after the 2019 friendly, the excited teenager, was quick to tell reporters about his Nigerian root. According to him, his a Japanese; but a with a Nigerian father.
And last weekend, after a friendly game against England’s U-21, Joel Chima, yet again, talked to the media about his Nigerian root.
Also in his statement, he was excited to play against some top English names in football. For the friendly, England fielded, Emil Smith-Rowe(Arsenal FC), Noni Madueke(Chelsea FC), Harvey Elliot(Liverpool FC).
Joel Chima Fujita explain benefits of his Nigerian root
“I was excited to hear that a Tottenham Midfielder(Oliver Skipp) was going to play, but then I saw that it wasn’t all that,” Chima was quoted by Owngoal Nigeria.
“The opponent showed skill, but the one I thought played well was at most Liverpool’s Elliot. Smith Rowe looked like he didn’t even take the field.”
“I am Japanese, but with a Nigerian father. Maybe, that’s why I am blessed with physical and technical abilities,” he added.
However, Chima, is not the only Nigerian player who feel he’s inspired by his Nigerian root. And a typical example to add to that is, Karim Adeyemi, a German international.
The Borussia Dortmund’s playmaker, admitted he usually get his pace because he consumes enough “Fufu”. Fufu is a Nigerian food, derived mainly form fermented cassava.
