STEVE OKAKPU-EMEKA sits in Leckview Park’s compact stand, looks out at the sward before him and imagines what his next stage will be like.
The 25-year-old Nigerian will line out for Letterkenny Rovers in Saturday’s FAI Intermediate Cup final against holders Crumlin United at Aviva Stadium.
Okakpu-Emeka has been inside Lansdowne Road’s theatre once before, when he watched the Republic of Ireland against Poland in a friendly international, but this week he’ll get a chance to shine himself.
Picture caption: Steve Okakpu-Emeka in action for Letterkenny Rovers. Picture by Stephen Doherty
His is a relaxed mood. It’s confident.
“I’m not trying to jinx us, but I’m just being confident,” he smiles, five days before the biggest game of his footballing life.
“It will be different, so different to playing in the Ulster Senior League…the stadium, the atmosphere, everything, it will all be a big challenge. If we stick to the task and be patient we can get the job done.
“I was in this stadium before to watch Ireland. To play in it? That will be the highlight of my football career. The biggest stage for definite.”
Born in Lagos, the Nigerian capital city, Okakpu-Emeka came to Ireland to join his mother, Mentina Ekpunobi in Navan in 2001.
Mentina still lives in Navan, but his sister, Erika, has since returned to Lagos.
[adrotate group=”63″]Five years ago, Steve came to Letterkenny Institute of Technology. He wondered from a friend at Blanchardstown IT about football in his new town.
He wandered down to Rovers, where Eamon McConigley was in a previous stint as the manager. He’s in his second spell under McConigley having also featured under Trevor Scanlon.
“Eamon is a key part of what we’re doing,” Okakpu-Emeka says.
“He’s got great belief in us.”
Growing up, Nigerian striker Jay-Jay Okocha was his idol and the Arsenal supporter in him drew him towards Thierry Henry.
He’s in his fifth season at Rovers now having settled in Letterkenny after coming to the IT. He now works in Marks & Spencer in the Letterkenny Retail Park.
[adrotate group=”37″]He says: “It’s a nice town. Why not? It’s a big difference, but I enjoy it here.
“I love Ireland. It’s my second home. I’m almost Irish. I have been here since I was 11.
“I enjoy it at Letterkenny Rovers. We have a good coach, good backroom staff and it’s a good club.”
In the semi-final against Ringmahon Rangers, Okakpu-Emeka was almost the Rovers hero. His first-half goal had Rovers in front and on their way to the final, only for Ray Kenny to deny them in the 94th minute.
[adrotate group=”41″]In the replay at Leckview, Paul McVeigh and David Shovlin netted as Rovers booked their place in the club’s first-ever Intermediate fina;.
“We came up here and did the job in front of the home fans and a big crowd,” says Okakpu-Emeka.
“We didn’t start great that day. We didn’t break as quick, but it was a big game for the club and for the players. The nerves kicked in, but we stayed together. We didn’t break. We stayed strong and got the job done.”
The Rovers dressing room is littered with experience like Jonathan Minnock, Shane Bradley, Terence Shiels and Darren McElwaine, while the likes of McVeigh, Christy Connaghan and Mark Forker have lined out for Harps.
[adrotate group=”12″]Okakpu-Emeka is something of an unknown in the Rovers squad, but the quiet, confident Nigerian sees a chance to write his name in the stars on Saturday.
“I’ll be honest, I go into the dressing room every week not knowing if I’m going to start in the game, but that’s a good thing,” he says.
“There is always someone there keeping you on your toes.
“You won’t just walk into the changing room here and get on. You have to fight for the place and that is the beauty of this team. You’ll get a game if you work hard, but it’s all about the team.
“I’m confident that we can win the final on Saturday. It will be a massive game and a massive chance for us.”
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