Nearly Seven-Foot-Tall And Getting the Hang of Football
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The Kings football team gave three-time defending state champion Hornell a good run in their first game of the season. Kearney has a tough Livingston County League Schedule and has a team that can compete this season.
"We have to show up to play football every day but I think, having good numbers this year, having good senior leadership and coming away after Friday's game, we realized, we do have some talent and we have a good football team," said Eddie Long, head coach.
In the summer, 6'10" God'spower Ogide showed up on Coach Long's practice field.
"He started running and then, once the conditioning part was over, we went into some skill positioning and he seemed like he was interested and he said, do you mind if I catch a few balls and he caught a couple of balls and the next thing you know he's like, do mind if I go over here and rush off the end a little bit and then the next thing you know, he's like, you know, I think I might wanna play football."
"There was no basketball so, I was tired of being bored at home so I just decided, seeing as the football season was here, I just wanted to join them," said Ogide.
As one might expect, his name has a story with it.
"When I was born, I was kinda fell really ill and it was a lot of problems for my family. So, when I got through with it and I became fine and OK, my parents decided to call me God'spower because they believe that it was God's Power that helped me through that sickness," Ogide said.
After playing basketball for a year in Washington D.C., his school closed and he was placed at Bishop Kearney. He had already met basketball star Chinonso Obokoh once and was aware of the basketball program.
"The foundation that brings us over here, after the camp in Nigeria, they got us over here and still have a camp and then they pick the best and give them schools and scholarships," said Ogide.
Long is using God'spower as a defensive end and for kickoffs. He played soccer growing up, so kicking comes naturally. He will play offense eventually.
"As we go, gradually, he'll pick up some offensive things and just learning the difference between a reach block and all the different things. Every day, he gets better and we give him a little bit more every day," Long said.