'I knew I was good': NSL star Esther Okoronkwo's dogged pursuit to play the game she loves

When Esther Okoronkwo was five years old, she wasn't dreaming of World Cups or championship trophies. She was just trying to keep up with her older brother and his friends in the streets of Abia, Nigeria, begging him for a spot in their games, often ending in tears when she was left out. 

What started as a backyard rivalry between siblings quickly became a passion that Okoronkwo couldn't shake. So much so, it would carry her from the neighbourhood pitch to the biggest international stage.

At the time, women's soccer did not look like a career that would provide financial stability to Okoronkwo, nor did she see a path to make it more than an after school kick-around. 

"I didn't think I'd go professional," the 26-year old player told CBC Sports in an exclusive interview. "Back then, women's football wasn't seen the way it is today. But I knew I was good."

Though the journey started in Nigeria, it took shape once Okoronkwo moved to Texas as a young teenager with her sister. There she completed high school and was recruited by Northeast Texas Community College before moving to Lamar University two years later.

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During the midst of changing schools in 2018, Okoronkwo was recovering from a torn ACL.

"It was bad, and painful," said Okoronkwo, who now plays for AFC Toronto of the Northern Super League. "It took me nine to 11 months to fully recover but I wanted to get back." 

Healed up and graduated, the midfielder spent a month training with NWSL's Houston Dash for a shot at a contract. At the same time, Nigeria was set to participate in the 2021 WNT Summer Series in Texas.

That's when Okoronkwo's chance came. 

"Some players flying in from Nigeria had visa issues and could not