University of Connecticut Athletics
Okafor's Road to Success From Malawi to Storrs
11/11/2022 9:27:00 AM | Women's Soccer
by Megan Lester
If you had asked Chioma Okafor 5 years ago, "where do you think you will be in 5 years from now?," she more than likely would never have said Storrs, Connecticut as her response. For Chioma, playing Division 1 college soccer was a dream, but never one she thought would become her reality.
"Coming from Malawi, this is more than I could have ever imagined," said Okafor. Because of limited resources and soccer exposure in Malawi, Chioma had little to no plans to move her life and soccer career to the states. This was until an opportunity arose in 2019 with the Berkshire School in Massachusetts. Little did she know, her stop in Massachusetts would be the first of an even bigger soccer journey.
After helping turn the Berkshire Girls' Soccer team around in her first season and then having breakout junior and senior years leading her team to the playoffs, many colleges and universities became extremely interested in recruiting Chioma to help their program in the same way. But for Chioma, UConn was always the front runner. "I knew at UConn, I would be the best version of myself," said Okafor. It was important to Chioma that not only did she fit the culture of the program she was a part of, but also that her vision for herself aligned with the staff's vision for her. The all-female coaching staff of the women's soccer team was a standout for Okafor, as well as the number of great female athletes and coaches throughout the University. "Not only are the facilities top notch, but the standard carried throughout UConn Athletics is superior, and I knew I had to be a part of that winning-culture," said Okafor.
"Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, with little opportunities and many people live in poverty. So to be able to be recruited by and attend a university as prestigious as UConn, it's been more than an honor," said Chioma. The journey to the US has not been an easy road for Chioma- though her game has remained the same, all of the factors of everyday living are beyond different then they are in Malawi. "The US moves at a much faster pace of life, and the cost of living is far more expensive," said Okafor. "I have to put in a lot of additional work outside of soccer to be able to support myself here." All of the work Chioma has put in during her first season at UConn is already paying off, being recognized on the All-BIGÂ EASTÂ Second Team and All-BIG EASTÂ Freshman Team.
Coming from the Berkshire School, where she was one of the top players on the team, Chioma's goal coming to UConn was not only to record a winning season, but for her to set a foundation for herself that she could live up to the next 4 years. Chioma did just that as she ended the season on a high note, recording goals in back-to-back games with her first career hat trick against Seton Hall and first career postseason goal against St. John's. She hopes to carry this high-level of play into the 2023 season and pick up right where she left off.
Because her role at the Berkshire School was always to be a 'scorer', another one of Chioma's main goals was to transition into a more well-rounded player and improve her defensive skills. "During my first meetings with the coaching staff, they wanted me to have a defense-first mentality," Chioma added. Since that meeting, Okafor adopted the defense-first mindset, and in turn notched her first goal of the year at Syracuse as a result of strong defense. "The emphasis on defense was the biggest area of growth on the field for me this year," said Okafor. "Though it is important for me to grow my game individually, I hope that I continue to grow into the best teammate and competitor that I can be."
Now that the 2022 season has come to an end, Chioma took some time to reflect on what this first year at the University of Connecticut has meant to her. "I just constantly remind myself of the power of working hard," Okafor said. Though it is often a cliche, without hard work and persistence to achieve her goals, Chioma would not be here at UConn, or likely even playing soccer in America. She works hard day in and day out to proudly represent the people back home in Malawi, and hopes to inspire many others that no matter the circumstances, you can achieve greatness. "I hope that young players, and especially those back in Malawi, can see that if you're doing what you love, hard work won't be hard to do. I hope they are all able to see their dreams through like I have."
