Super Falcons Defender Michelle Alozie Shares Her Desire to Embrace Her Nigerian Heritage

Nigerian female national team, Super Falcons’ USA-born defender, Michelle Alozie has disclosed that her decision to give academic scholarships to two youngsters was because of her desire to connect with the culture of her ancestral roots.

Sports247 reports that, though she was born in Carlifonia and initially played for the United States of America at youth level, Alozie has become an integral part of the Falcons and was in the squad that won a historic tenth African title earlier this year.

The Houston Dash of USA right-full-back has now taken her love for Nigeria beyond just donning the country’s jersey, as she recently splashed scholarships on the duo of Edafe Omamuzo Josephine and Edidiong Raymond Etim, a gesture which Alozie said was born out of love for her roots.

The thickset defender, who has a degree in microbiology and previously played professionally in Kazakhstan after a very successful spell in USA’s collegiate scene, stated: “It’s so grand to me to support the next generation of Nigerian players because I know how important education is.

“So, when I heard there was some interest from two young Nigerian players to get an education while also pursuing their football career, I decided to support them. It’s something that I really pacify and I love.”

She went on to confirm her passion for Nigeria and affirmed that linking up with everything about the country has always been a huge motivation for her, in spite of having been born in a foreign land, hence her delight at being part of the Falcons’ tenth conquest of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year.

“Since I’m a Nigerian in the diaspora, I feel like I have a connection back to my root and a link into my culture. I won WAFCON with Nigeria for the tenth time, and it means everything to me.

“I had a lot of practice while balancing academics with soccer. I went to the Ivy League and graduated at Yale, but it was not easy combining microbiology with soccer,” Alozie confessed.
She concluded by revealing how she was able to weather the storm and excel in both of her passions – school and soccer.

“It was something that I wanted to do, and nothing was going to stop me from it. (Now that I where I am), I just want to connect to people and support the next generation of Nigeria’s players,” Alozie submitted.