Pictured is Clare footballer Ikem Ugwueru at SuperValu’s launch of the GAA All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and its #CommunityIncludesEveryone campaign. Sponsors of the Championship for a fifteenth consecutive season, SuperValu were joined by Gaelic Games role models and advocates from across the country in Croke Park today to highlight the role of GAA communities in making Ireland a more diverse, inclusive and welcoming country for all.
By John Harrington
It’s quite common nowadays for sportspeople to have something of meaning written on a wrist strapping or even the back of their hand before they go out to compete.
It could be a key performance indicator they’re chasing, a message that refocuses them in a moment of doubt, or something personal they can use as source of motivation.
For Clare footballer, Ikem Ugwueru, it’s one word that means so much it isn’t written on his hand, it’s tattooed there.
“It says ‘Agape’ which means 'God's love'”, said Ugwueru when asked about his tattoo. “I'd be very religious, so whenever I see it on my hand I know that God always loves you.
“He has given me the strength and the capability to show what I'm able to do on the pitch. It's all thanks to him really. I feel like love can take you a long way, you know?
“And if you know someone is always backing you, and always has your back no matter what, you will do your best every day.
“I give all thanks to God! God always loves you, and it's something mum and dad put into us as kids because they're very religious and we are too.”
Uguweru was in Croke Park last week for the 2024 launch of SuperValu’s #CommunityIncludesEveryoneCampaign which champions inclusivity and diversity in Gaelic games. He first became am ambassador for the campaign last year when he spoke powerfully about the pride he takes in being a black Irishman and the importance of challenging prejudice.
Ikem Ugwueru of Clare during the Munster GAA Football Senior Championship semi-final match between Waterford and Clare at Fraher Field in Dungarvan, Waterford. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
His profile as an inter-county footballer makes him a role-model for others, and he’s more than happy to shoulder that responsibility.
“Last year was my first year doing something like this so I didn't think anything of it,” he says. “It wasn't till all the videos were published and I was on RTÉ that everyone said 'oh wow, there's Ikem'.
“They came up to me and said it was a good thing I was doing. I'm just playing the game because I like playing the game, I don't really see anything to it, but then people come up to me and say 'you doing this is really good for my son, or my friend, or my daughter'.
“When I hear stuff like that it does kind of move me. I play football because I like it and if I'm inspiring people by the way I play, I'm just going to continue doing that. I would hate if my brothers or sisters were treated differently by the way they look or the way they are by playing a sport.
“Sport is for everyone. There is no rule to say it is for a certain type of person; it's for everyone. It does hurt me that people get racially abused, weekly.
“When SuperValu called me to be part of this campaign, I couldn't say no. This is something I'm working towards and I'm happy to be a role model for the younger kids, and to show them that if they really want to do it, they can. There is nothing to stop you, only yourself can stop you.
“You can't please everyone; there will always be a few criticis and a few haters, but that's fine. If you weren't doing anything good, you wouldn't have haters really. That's the message that I'm spreading.
"My sister [Chisom], too, that's also playing (rugby) for Ireland. It's her and Linda [Djougang], they're the only two black females that are playing and they're doing great things for this country and for the younger girls too.
“When people see that, they get motivated and then won't be afraid to join sports and ask questions. Same with my brother, playing with Shannon RFC. He's the only black boy on his team too. Him doing that is massive. He probably doesn't know that, but I'll always let him know that he's doing us proud and Chisom is doing our family proud. I hope to say that I'm doing people proud too.
"Never be afraid to try anything. If you're ever worried, ask questions. There is no wrong question, as I'm sure somebody else on the team wanted to ask the same question but they were afraid. We just have to keep doing our part, that's all."
You’ve probably figured it out yourself by now, but Ugwueru is one of those people who throws himself totally into being the best he possibly can be at whatever he tries to do.
When he was a young boy he did judo for a few years and ended up representing Ireland at the age of 11 in a tournament in England where he came second.
Ikem Ugwueru of Clare in action against Ben McCarron of Derry during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Round 3 match between Derry and Clare at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park in Longford. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile
Then he played soccer for a while and was selected on the Clare Youths team.
When he watched his first game of rugby and saw Christian Wade tearing it up on the win for London Wasps against London Irish he reckoned he could give that a go too, and ended up playing for Shannon in the AIL and being called up to the Munster Development squad.
Eventually he decided to focus on Gaelic football and he’s found it to be the most challenging and rewarding of all the sports his played.
Last year was his first year on the Clare senior panel and most of his appearances were off the bench, but this year he’s nailed down a starting XV spot at wing-back.
“Inter-county football is very full on,” says Ugwueru. “You have to prepare. Preparation is everything. You can't wait for the day of the game to prepare. You have to make sure that your diet is good, your training is good. You have to plan your days off too because you can't be exhausting yourself every day because then you won't be able to train.
“And if you're not able to train you won't be able to play well in the game. I've had to adjust to that because with rugby it was different. Rugby was three days in a row and then that was it and then the game at the weekend.
“But with football it's like you'll have one day and then a day off and then another day and another day off and then the game at the weekend. So it does give you time to obviously go back to work on stuff but you still need to prep yourself during those days off and it does test you.
“If you're not ready then you won't be able to perform on the day. It's been good, the adjustment, because I've played all kinds of sports and they're all different in their own ways. But football has been the most 'up there' in my opinion.”
‘Explosive’ is the word that comes to mind when you watch Ugwueru play for Clare. His Instinct is to attack when he gets the ball in his hands, and he has a serious turn of pace and the ability to jink through tackles thanks to a side-step he worked hard to perfect during his rugby days.
His idol in this regard was the former New Zealand rugby player Nathan Milner-Skudder, so he studied videos of him in action and broke down the mechanics of his side step until he was able to replicate it himself.
Ikem Ugwueru of Clare before the 2023 Allianz Football League Division 2 match between Derry and Clare at Derry GAA Centre of Excellence in Owenbeg, Derry. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
As more and more inter-county Gaelic footballers are finding out the hard way, trying to stop Ugwueru in full-flight can leave you grasping at air.
“Everybody thinks it’s natural but, yeah, I did go on YouTube for those videos just to learn how to go off one foot and then bang off the other one,” he says. “A little skip, like.
“It's just sizing up your defender because if a defender thinks you're running straight at him he might just stop and once he stops then you have him then.
So it's been good. People have tried to defend it but it's one thing saying you’re going to defend it but when you come against it you see it's kind of different. So, yeah, it's worked for me so far.
"I feel like you always have to work on your skills if you want to be better. Obviously coming from rugby there was more running and stepping and physicality.
“I do use that in football but you can't just use that only. You still need to be able to solo the ball at pace, pass the ball at pace. Obviously shooting isn't my biggest go-to trait, but I am still working on it.
"Whatever you're good at, work on it, and then use it to your advantage. That's what I'm doing right now with my pace and my step and physicality. I'm using that to my advantage.
“I feel like you can always get faster. Obviously I’m quick enough, but I think I can get faster. I am working on that because, as they say, speed kills. Natural speed will take you a long way and, if you incorporate the skills of football and stuff, then it can take you far.”
Not many people predicted big things for the Clare footballers this year.
The departure of Colm Collins as manager and absence from the panel for a variety of reasons of star players like Eoin Cleary, Keelan Sexton, Ciarán Russell, Cathal O’Connor, and Jamie Malone looked like too severe a talent drain to overcome.
But then Mark Fitzgerald came in as manager and very quickly built a new-look team that performed creditably in Division 3 of the Allianz League, only missing out on promotion due to a final round defeat to Down.
Ikem Ugweru of Clare during the 2023 Allianz Football League Division 2 match between Clare and Cork at Cusack Park in Ennis, Clare. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile.
Young players and previously fringe members of the panel like Ugwueru have taken centre stage and blossomed.
“I've really enjoyed it,” he says. “Obviously there has been a massive change with Colm gone and obviously 10 players leaving as well.
“We kind of knew we had to step up because there are fellas my age and below that who have been with the team the last couple of years. We kind of knew we had to step up and show the young lads that there's things to be achieved with Clare this year.
“We do have a lot of doubters so we do want to prove them wrong in a way.”
They certainly have plenty of doubters ahead of Sunday’s Munster SFC Final against Kerry.
When the teams met in last year’s decider Kerry stormed to a 14-point victory and Clare have lost a lot of players in the intervening 12 months.
Ugwueru admits that was a tough day at the office for the Banner county, but is relishing the opportunity to make amends for it.
“That kind of game will always be in the back of your head,” he says. “We're obviously trying to combat that and not want to make the same mistakes we made last year and not be as afraid.
“We want to go out there and put our best foot forward and really express ourselves because I don't think we did that last year. We let the occasion get the better of us and maybe everybody was talking about Kerry and that might have gotten into our heads.
“This time it's all about us and how we deal with issues. With players gone from last year, others now have to step up that didn't play last year, like myself. I only came off the bench last year so I will have a bit more to say now.
“And for the new lads, it's about their attributes and seeing how well they go.
"Last year was last year, this year is this year and it's a different team that we have this year - and it feels like everyone is more confident in a way.
“Even though people might not think we'd be more confident with the players that we've lost. At the end of the day it's down to the team and whatever you believe in, because if you don't believe in it then it won't happen.
“If we're going to go in thinking that we've already lost, then you've lost. You have to go in enthusiastic. You never know what could happen on the day. It's championship football, it's completely different to the league. Anything can happen, really. Obviously we're underdogs but we'll be happy with that.”