Flamingos captain Harmony Chidi: Only grandmother and Prince Chidi backed her football dream
Nigeria's U-17 women's captain Harmony Chidi revealed only two people encouraged her football career: her late grandmother and Prince Chidi, owner of Imo Strikers Queens who became her father figure after her biological father died. Chidi, a forward for Imo Strikers, helped the Flamingos beat Japan 2-1 in the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup final last weekend (November 7-8) in Morocco.
Speaking to BBC News Pidgin, Chidi said her grandmother's encouragement kept her going until her passing. "My father is late. It was not easy when I was coming up to play football. Currently, Prince Chidi is my father; he is the owner of Imo Strikers, my grassroots team, and he encouraged me to play football. He said he would do anything possible to make sure I play football and reach my dream."
Prince Chidi's support proved decisive—he funded her development through Imo Strikers' system when peers and others dismissed her ambitions. The World Cup victory makes Nigeria the first African nation to win the tournament, with Chidi playing a key role throughout.
What unconventional dream are you pursuing, and who are the one or two people whose belief makes it possible?