Latest news with #Okonkwo
Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Wrexham player who was at Arsenal gets brutal reality check from David Raya
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has issued a warning over the challenges of playing in the second tier as Wrexham ready themselves for the next level after three successive promotion David Raya has issued a cautionary note that former Arsenal goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo would be wise to take into account ahead of Wrexham 's Championship campaign next season. Okonkwo made a name for himself after progressing through the Gunners' academy during his youth career. He made his first senior appearances on loan at Crewe Alexandra in League Two during the 2022/23 season and also had a stint in Austria with Sturm Graz. The gifted keeper joined Wrexham on loan from Arsenal in September 2023 and impressed as Phil Parkinson 's team secured automatic promotion from the fourth tier. Okonkwo then permanently signed for the North Wales club, owned by Hollywood celebrities Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, last summer. The 23-year-old was instrumental in the team achieving a third consecutive promotion from League One in April, keeping 19 clean sheets during the 2024/25 campaign. However, current Arsenal No.1 Raya has now warned about the difficulty of playing in the Championship, describing it as tougher for goalkeepers than even the Premier League. The Spanish international is well acquainted with those challenges, having starred in the second tier with Blackburn Rovers and Brentford. Raya discussed the mental and physical tests which await Okonkwo while appearing on the Fozcast podcast, hosted by former Wrexham and Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster. "It's so much different [playing in the Championship] and you get kicked everywhere," Raya said. "Every throw-in is going into the six-yard box, with eight or nine monsters just going straight into you. "Obviously in the Premier League there are more quality players but when it gets to physicality, there's a lot more games [in the Championship] as well. That mental and physical side of playing Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday for the whole season is so, so tough and it's one of the hardest leagues in the world." Foster, who won the National League title with Wrexham, backed Raya's view that the physical demands of the Championship are unparalleled. He said: "I totally agree. I think, as a goalkeeper, playing in the Championship is harder than playing in the Premier League. You need to have more about you. You've got to be physically stronger and physicality comes into it a lot more in the Championship. "If you go further down the leagues into the National League, League Two, even League One, I think there's Premier League goalkeepers right now that would not be able to play in those leagues. Even in the Championship, I think you've got to be more rounded to survive." While he's now well-settled after propelling his team to two promotions, Okonwko confessed that his initial days at Wrexham were a bit of a mystery. During an appearance on the Amanpour and Company TV series on PBS, he said: "When my agents told me about the opportunity, I did have to search 'where is Wrexham' and that's me being honest. I knew they were in the EFL and I knew a bit about the club, but I didn't know how well they were doing. "The owners are so well known and when they're calling you, it still feels surreal. It's all been an interesting, and slightly weird, journey. I always knew that Wrexham was the right move for me [last summer]. The fans wanted me back, the players wanted me back and they couldn't tell me any more." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Sign up to our newsletter! Wrexham is the Game is great new way to get top-class coverage Wrexham AFC is the arguably the fastest-growing club in the world at the moment thanks to a certain Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The Dragons have achieved two consecutive promotions and are cheered on by crowds from not only North Wales but also from all over the globe, thanks to the success of the Disney+ documentary 'Welcome to Wrexham'. But does it have a dedicated, quality source of information piped through to your inbox each week, free of ads but packed with informed opinion, analysis and even a little bit of fun each week? That's where Wrexham is the Game steps in... Available every Wednesday, it provides all the insights you need to be a top red. And for a limited time, a subscription to 'Wrexham is the Game' will cost fans just £15 for the first year.
Leader Live
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Arthur Okonkwo on why staying at Wrexham was 'right move'
The goalkeeper enjoyed a successful season-long loan spell at The Racecourse from Arsenal in 2023-24, helping the Reds finish runners-up in League Two to seal a second promotion in a row. A free agent following his release by the Gunners, there was interest in Okonkwo last summer from a number of clubs but Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson persuaded the 23-year-old to extend his stay in north Wales. Okonkwo put pen to paper on a three-year deal after ambitious Parkinson explained how he wanted the success story to continue in League One and the stopper played his part in Wrexham clinching second spot behind big-spending champions Birmingham City to secure an historic third successive promotion. "It was definitely the right move and I'm extremely happy," he said. "When I spoke to the gaffer last summer before I joined, straight away I knew that this was the right move. "The manager had a plan, he said he wanted to go and do it again, and I signed. "I have belief in the manager and the decisions he's made and the players he brought in. "As much as it's a surprise to people, it's not the biggest surprise for me. "I knew that we were going to compete this season. I said from the beginning that I had high hopes for us getting promotion. "I never had any doubt and there is so much relief and one of the best feelings knowing that we've done it." Wrexham clinched automatic promotion following a 3-0 victory at home to Charlton Athletic. Nearest rivals Wycombe Wanderers suffered a 1-0 defeat at Leyton Orient in the early kick-off and the Reds knew they would finish the job off with a game to go if they beat the Addicks, and the players delivered. Ollie Rathbone and Sam Smith put Wrexham 2-0 up after only 18 minutes and the latter completed the scoring in the second half, sparking jubilant scenes of celebration at The Racecourse with a place in the Championship guaranteed. "It was unreal. a really emotional day," said Okonkwo, who played a key role in the top-two finish by keeping 19 clean sheets in 33 league outings this term. "We've been working so hard towards that goal for the whole season and to finally achieve it is an unreal moment. "We had that pressure before the game against Charlton but we're a good set of lads who can handle that pressure and it showed. "It was never in any doubt. We knew what had to be done and I'm so proud of the boys and everyone that's worked towards this together." Wrexham are back in the second tier for the first time in 43 years but for now, Okonkwo is just going to bask in the glory of being a promotion winner once again. "Now it's just working towards next season," he added. "We're going to have to change a lot of things and improve but for now, I am just going to enjoy it and soak it all in, and focus on next season when it's there."
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
WNBA Roster Cuts Include Former 14 Points Per Game Award Winner
The Connecticut Sun have continued to prepare their roster for the 2025 WNBA regular season. The team's latest move was to part ways with both a guard and forward. The Sun announced Wednesday they waived veteran forward Amy Okonkwo and rookie guard Madison Hayes. Advertisement Okonkwo has yet to appear in a WNBA regular season game in her career. But in college, she starred with the TCU Horned Frogs, averaging more than 14 points per game during her junior and senior seasons. Okonkwo also posted more than five rebounds per game during both of those campaigns. As a junior in 2017-18, she came off the bench to average 14.4 points and 5.8 rebounds. During that season, Okonkwo won the Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year award. Then as a starter during her senior campaign, Okonkwo averaged 14.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. WNBA Forward Amy Okonkwo© Kyle Terada-Imagn Images Okonkwo began her college career at USC. But after her freshman season, she transferred to TCU, where she played three seasons from 2016-19. Advertisement Okonkwo has played most of her professional career overseas. In the 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympics, she represented Nigeria. Hayes is entering her first WNBA season. She played four seasons with the NC State Wolfpack after one year with the Mississippi State Bulldogs to begin her college career. As a senior, Hayes averaged 10.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 0.9 assists for NC State during 2024-25. On April 21, the Sun signed Hayes to a training camp contract. On the verge of the regular season, though, Hayes will join Okonkwo on waivers. The Sun will begin the 2025 regular season with their home opener against the Washington Mystics on Sunday. Related: WNBA Franchise Cuts Ties With Former Champion Amid Roster Moves
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
WNBA Team Releases Nigerian Player Days Before New Season
With the Connecticut Sun regular season set to tip off on Sunday against Washington, the franchise announced two final roster cuts. On Wednesday, they opted to waive guard Madison Hayes and Nigerian forward Amy Okonkwo as they slim down to the league-mandated 12 players. Advertisement The moves mark the latest in a series of springtime trim-downs. After signing Hayes to a training camp contract on April 21 and Okonkwo on February 13, the Sun have now released six training camp invitees this month alone, following cuts of Morgan Maly (April 26), Mya Hollingshed & Abbey Hsu (April 28), and Caitlin Bickle & Kamila Borkowska (May 8). Hayes, an undrafted guard out of NC State, burst onto the national scene during her Wolfpack tenure, averaging 10.9 points and 7.1 rebounds while shooting 41.3 % from deep in her final collegiate season. A key member of NC State's 2024 Final Four squad, she entered camp vying for backcourt depth but ultimately couldn't crack the veteran-heavy Connecticut Sun roster. Advertisement Okonkwo, a decorated international forward, captained Nigeria's D'Tigress to AfroBasket 2023 gold and earned Big 12 Sixth Player of the Year honors at TCU in 2018. At 28, she appeared poised to bolster the frontcourt, yet the Sun opted for a mix of proven WNBA hands and high-draft picks ahead of their home opener. The Connecticut Sun Cruz-Imagn Images The Sun closed last year with a franchise-record 28-12 slate, powered by multiple All-Stars and a top‐3 seed, before bowing out in the semifinals to Minnesota in a 2-3 series. This offseason drove significant turnover: All-Star Alyssa Thomas shifted to Phoenix, while free agency and trades shuffled the rest of the Connecticut Sun roster. Advertisement While Hayes and Okonkwo now explore opportunities elsewhere, the Sun prepare for Sunday's tip-off in Uncasville. Related: Wings Release Two of Paige Bueckers' Teammates on Saturday Related: Caitlin Clark's Teammate Responds to Fever Star After Brazil Game
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Time of India
Nigerian sentenced to 15 years for drug peddling in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: A special court for narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances cases Monday found a 45-year-old Nigerian guilty of peddling drugs and sentenced him to 15 years' rigorous imprisonment with a fine of over Rs 1.7 lakh. The convict is Harry Okonkwo, a resident of Seegehalli in KR Pura and originally from Aqnam in Nigeria. Records show he entered the country with a business visa in 2021 and was judge Vijay Devaraj Urs directed Okonkwo to undergo one more year's simple imprisonment in case of default of fine. On Oct 10, 2022, Central Crime Branch sleuths arrested Okonkwo after seizing 200 grams of MDMA from his Seegehalli residence. He has been in judicial custody since prosecutor KV Ashwathhanarayana said nine witnesses deposed before the court during the trial. "Also, 24 documents, including digital evidence, were submitted to the court. Police investigation helped in clinching the conviction," he said.
