Visti da vicino | Samuel Nwachukwu
Verona - The 5th appointment with ‘Visti da vicino’, the Hellas Verona format that will accompany us every week for the entire 2024/25 season, in which the protagonists are the young Yellow-Blues from the Primavera formation coached by coach Paolo Sammarco.
Curiosities, anecdotes, personal lives and of course a lot of football are the main themes of these interviews. In this week's episode we discover the life, both private and sporting, of one of the Yellow-Blue's new Primavera defenders: Samuel Nwachukwu.
Samuel, you are in your first year with Hellas Verona. How are you experiencing the start of this new adventure? What were your first impressions of the club and the team? "After seven years at Udinese I felt it was time for a change on a sporting level, and for this reason I chose Verona. I'm getting on very well here, although unfortunately I've run into some difficulties at a physical level and right now I'm trying to recover to get back at top condition. This year I didn't even have the chance to do the summer training camp because of some situations that had been created with Udinese, and I arrived here in Verona with the championship already coming up. Having said that, however, I am very happy at Hellas. The club has told me that it believes a lot in my qualities and I want to return this trust".
How did your move from Udinese to Verona come about? "At the end of last season Udinese and I didn't have the same ideas about how to continue my career. I had already reached the first-team circuit, I had even managed to make my debut in the Coppa Italia, but sometimes in life something doesn't go as you think or as you had planned, and so I jumped at the great opportunity given to me by Verona, who pushed so hard to have me. Of course I want to thank Udinese for these seven years together but, as I said, it was time for a change of air and so I am convinced of my choice. Once I make a decision, for better or for worse, I always carry it through".
What are the main challenges you encountered in your adaptation to the Hellas Primavera, especially considering that this is your first year? "Definitely as an adaptation with the team initially it was a bit complex because I arrived very late, at the end of preparation, so I had to speed things up. However, I integrated well straight away thanks to my teammates, coach Sammarco and his staff. The coach has a very clear idea of football, which we all want to follow as best we can in order to try to perform as well as possible".
What does coach Sammarco mainly ask you to work on? "He asks me to be a leader in the defensive department. I think Verona chose me also for this reason, because a central defender like me, especially when playing in the centre of a three-man defence, must be able to give the team the attention and concentration needed for the whole 90 minutes. That's why the coach requires from me a lot of leadership, to guide the team and, finally, also to play simply, with clean touches that give confidence".
Defensively, what characteristics distinguish you from other players? What do you consider to be your strengths? "My strengths are definitely my physicality and speed, because I am a fast enough defender who can use his body well. On the other hand, I need to improve in technique so that I can make more correct moves, limiting mistakes. I think I am at a good point, although I always try to reach my maximum potential and not to settle, because sometimes giving 100 per cent is not enough, you have to reach 200 per cent. With my physical performance it can happen that I can stop opponents even if I don't give my maximum, but I know that to get to play in the First Team I must always be able to overcome my limits and show everyone that I am giving more than I should, only then can I reach my goal".
The season has just started. What are your personal goals and what do you hope to achieve together with the team? "The first goal for the team is to achieve salvation and thus maintain the category. Then if we are good enough to get a few places further up the table, that's fine. The Primavera 1 championship is very difficult this year, with three relegations, but for us players it is also stimulating because we can grow a lot, and the club does everything to make the most of us. Personally I would like to make it to the First Team and be a permanent feature at Verona, that is my goal".
Is there a defender, both in the team and outside, that you consider an inspirational role model to improve your performance? "As a reference point I have Coppola. He's a young player, who went through the same process that we're doing in the youth sector, and now he's a fundamental part of the First Team, so I say he's a role model for me. Then of course there are also the more experienced players, like Dawidowicz and Magnani, who have been in Serie A for a long time and have something more in terms of experience, and you can learn a lot from them".
What made you choose Hellas Verona? What attracted you most about this project? "I was convinced by the way they work with youngsters, how they manage to develop them. In recent years I have seen several youngsters come out of the youth sector and now play at important levels. I'm sure Verona is the right team for me".
Tell us something about your debut in the Coppa Italia with the Udinese shirt... "It was a beautiful debut, very exciting, because I did it in my home stadium, in the city where I grew up. I remember that at the beginning, on the bus, I was a bit nervous, but once I got on the pitch I only thought about giving my contribution to the team and enjoying the moment, trying to show all my qualities".
When did you start playing football? "I started playing when I was six years old. My uncle Claudio gave me the passion. As a child, I always played with him in the garden and let's say I got used to playing against older opponents straight away. At the beginning I didn't join any football team and only played with him, and it was my uncle who passed on the desire to play football to me".
Coming from another reality, how was it for you to adapt to the city of Verona and life in this new environment? "I found some initial difficulties, as is normal. For example, I didn't know my way around, I didn't know what I could do or what I couldn't do, but now that two months have passed I have settled in and I'm fine, I'm relaxed. I'm in a good team and I've met some good friends, who live with me in the hostel. We don't lack anything here, we are treated well, we have everything we need to be able to study, rest and perform at our best".
Have you particularly become close with any of your teammates? "I would say that I get on well with everyone in the team, but of course I have more of a relationship with the guys who live with me in the hostel such as Agbonifo, Cisse, Ravasio, Barry, Philippe, Jablonski, Fagoni and Nwanege. But in general with everyone, even those I haven't named now".
How do you manage with foreign languages? Did you decide to continue your studies after high school? "I am a native English speaker, since it is my father's language. I am now also learning French, so I have no particular difficulty communicating with classmates. As for my study path, after graduating last year, I decided to enrol in a law faculty. I think it's important to study, because you never know what can happen in a player's career, and in any case it's a ‘short’ type of job, which ends around the age of 35 or 40. So you also have to think about the future".
Off the field, what do you like to do to relax? Do you have any particular passion or hobby that helps you take a break from football? "I really enjoy following basketball, especially NBA. I'm a big fan, I follow the games and play video games. My favourite player is Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies. He is a young player, but he is already the undisputed leader of a team that, although it is not a franchise accredited to win the title, always fights to try to go all the way. I think it is thanks to him that his teammates are able to perform at their best, and that is what I try to do in the team. For me that's true leadership, the one I take inspiration from, which is the ability to bring out the best in your teammates, setting an example in the first place".
Who do you think is the fastest player in the team? "The fastest are Agbonifo and Philippe. However, in my opinion, when I've recovered physically, I too can have my say, and it won't be easy to beat them in speed. Having said that, they are really fast and their speed is an extra weapon for us to use in the match".
Who do you think is the most technical of the team and also who do you think has the best shot? "The most technical ones, for the way they control the ball, for the way they play in tight situations and for their neatness in passing are Pavanati, Monticelli and Devoti. As far as the best shot is concerned, on free kicks Agbonifo, Monticelli and Scharner are in the running, but on shots in general I would say all the forwards".
Is there anyone you would like to thank for your growth that has brought you this far? "Yes, I would definitely like to thank my mother and father, Mary and John. My dad is the one who is a bit more interested in football, and apart from coming to watch the games he calls me often, he fills me with advice and is sometimes very strict. He doesn't give me so much advice on football, but more on character and behaviour, on how to approach matches. He tells me to do my best, he berates me and nothing ever goes right for him, but I know he does it because he knows my qualities and he always wants to see me improve and overcome my limits each time. Besides my family, I have to thank God for the strength he gives me every day. I think God has given everyone qualities and a path, so it's up to us to follow it, striving every day to reach our goal on this path that he has given us. Finally, I want to thank all the coaches and staff I have worked with. In particular, for the last period, I thank coach Sammarco, director Margiotta and all those who help me every day to achieve my goals".