Nkwocha’s shoes too big for me- Gomina

Pelican Stars of Calabar new kid on the block, Theresa Gomina has revealed to nigeriasports.com that despite the promise she has shown in the last couple of years, she is not ready to be referred to as the new Pepetua Nkwocha.

Pelican Stars striker, Theresa Gomina
The nineteen year old burly attacker who joined the Calabar based side at the start of the 2005 football season told nigeriasports.com that she would want to be given time to grow at her own pace and not face the pressure of being compared to the African Footballer of the year.

“I am still young and if you ask me I do not think my name should be mentioned in the same breath as Pepetua’s but every one says I am the new Nkwocha. Maybe if I keep my head I could be, but I’m not thinking of that now.” Gomina told nigeriasports.com.

“Pepetua bears her own name and I am here to bear mine and I just pray that by God’s grace I meet up. She has always been my hero, some one I look up to and I always want to do with the ball what she does and maybe even more.”

Gomina started her football career with British Council sponsored CATS FC of Lagos six years ago before teeming up with Macbeth Queens of Lagos and then Pelican Stars in 2005.

The teenager said she joined Pelican Stars at the start of the season because she liked the way young players were motivated at the Calabar based side.

She said upcoming stars with potentials were brought in and polished, a thing she wanted for herself.

“I have a role model, Mia Hamm and that is because I like the way she plays, which is just like I want to play. I also wish I will one day be the world footballer of the year.”

Ntiero on Gomina

Chief Coach of Pelican Stars, Ntiero Effiom gave kudos to the young Gomina saying with her in his line up he may not feel the absence of African Footballer of the year, Pepetua Nkwocha.

Ntiero told nigeriasports.com that Gomina, though a very young player has the potentials to be all Nkwocha is and more.

“She is big, strong, can shoot with both feet and dribbles well,” Ntiero said as he extolled her virtues.

“She is also a work horse as she covers every blade of grass on the field.”

If she keeps her head, she will be the next big thing in Nigerian Women football.

However, Gomina’s glory hunt was cut down by injury as she received a knock on her knee that has kept her out for more than four weeks.

“After that knock I decided to rest until the second round of the league so I can come back better for the rest of the season.”

Gomina had two league goals to her name before that injury.