BY SUNDAY AKINTOYE
He may not yet be a household name among football followers in Lagos, but within the ranks of Team360 Football Club of Surulere, Daniel Geoffrey Okechukwu is already earning a reputation as a player to watch.
Fondly known by his teammates and supporters as “Dan De Predator,” the lanky striker has established himself as one of Team360 FC’s key players in the ongoing Lagos State League organised by the Lagos State Football Association.
A regular starter for the Surulere-based side, Okechukwu has embraced the competition as an opportunity to test his abilities, gain valuable exposure and take another step towards his dream of playing professional football in Europe.
Speaking with our correspondent recently in Lagos, the striker described his experience in the league as rewarding, saying the competition has provided him with greater exposure while preparing him for the challenges ahead.
“My experience in the Lagos State Football League with my Team360 has been wonderful, with more media exposure. It is a platform where I showcase my talent,” Okechukwu said.
“My colleagues and I have been trying our best to get more wins. We have won four matches, drawn four and lost three, and we are hoping to win our next match.”
Despite having scored only a few goals and contributed some assists so far, the striker insists that his best is yet to come.
According to him, the competitiveness of the Lagos State League is helping him develop and attracting the attention of football scouts who monitor the competition.
“The Lagos State Football League is being monitored by major football scouts around the world, and I must confess that my best has not come yet because of the level of competitiveness of the league.
“I have scored a few goals and made some assists, but, like I said before, my best is yet to come. I am looking forward to scoring more goals before the end of the season,” he added.
Team360’s position on the league table remains a concern for the young striker, but Okechukwu is refusing to give up on the team’s ambition of reaching the Super Four.
“I am worried about our position on the log, but we will give our best to ensure that we qualify for the Super Four before the end of the season,” he said confidently.
For Okechukwu, however, the value of the Lagos State League extends beyond the team’s position on the table.
The competition, he believes, is making him stronger, more focused and increasingly confident in his abilities.
The striker credits the intensity of the league with helping him develop the consistency and mental strength required to compete at a higher level.
“The league has had a positive impact on my football career. I am getting better and I have more confidence in myself than before.
“Like I said earlier, the league is competitive and it is preparing me for what I am likely to see when I get to Europe for a professional career in the future.”
And Okechukwu is clear about where he wants his football journey to lead.
He has set his sights on some of Europe’s biggest football leagues, with France, Spain, Germany, Belgium and Italy featuring prominently in his ambitions.
“My next move after the State League is to play for top clubs in France, Spain, Germany, Belgium and Italy in the nearest future,” he declared.
For now, though, “Dan De Predator” remains focused on Team360 FC and the task at hand.
With the Lagos State League providing the platform, Okechukwu knows that every match offers another chance to improve, score, impress and move closer to the European dream.