SJ Odi-Olowo Chairman’s Cup: 14-Goal Striker Meme Eyes Golden Eaglets Call-Up
Chinemere Ugwunwa Meme has set his sights on a call-up to the Golden Eaglets after an impressive scoring run at the SJ Odi-Olowo Chairman’s Cup, where the young striker finished the competition with 14 goals in four matches.
Speaking with sportsbeat.ng after helping his team to the championship, Meme said his next ambition is to translate his impressive tournament form into an opportunity with Nigeria’s U-17 national team.
“I would be very glad if, from this competition, I can get a call-up to the national team. It would be a great opportunity for me,” Meme told sportsbeat.ng.
The prolific forward played a key role in his team’s successful campaign, producing goals throughout the tournament and emerging as one of the competition’s standout performers.
Meme also revealed that the team had to overcome a difficult start before eventually finding their rhythm and going all the way to the title.
“We lost our first game and everybody was down, but after the coach spoke to us, we changed our mentality. We still had three more matches, so we believed we could come back,” he explained.
That response proved decisive as Meme and his teammates recovered strongly, including a 5-2 victory in a match where their opponents had fought back to level at 2-2.
“All thanks to God, we qualified and eventually became champions,” he added.
Started Playing Football at Four
Meme’s football journey began remarkably early. The striker said he first started playing football at the age of four before discovering his potential during a youth competition.
“There was a day we were going for a competition and they called me to play. I told them I didn’t know how to do it because I had never done it before,” he recalled.
“But when I came out to play, I discovered that I was a good player. Since then, I have continued developing.”
According to Meme, his development was accelerated by playing alongside older players, an experience he believes helped him build confidence and mature quickly as a footballer.
“When I joined my current team, they helped me develop my game by putting me among my seniors. Playing with them gave me courage and made me fearless. They allowed me to express myself and do what I wanted on the pitch,” he said.
The youngster, who will turn 16 this year, believes his performances sometimes make people question his age because of the maturity of his game.
“My game has matured more than others because of the development football has given me and because I have been playing with older players,” Meme said.
With 14 goals already under his belt at the SJ Odi-Olowo Chairman’s Cup, Meme now hopes his performances will attract the attention of the national team selectors.
The striker who was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, said his biggest target remains earning an opportunity to represent Nigeria with the Golden Eaglets.
For Meme, the journey that began at the age of four could now be entering its most important chapter.
