Page 77 - Soccer360 Issue 104

‘I think the first ever
CJ Uzomahmay be investing in a European soccer club in the future.
European match I went to was an Ajax match, that was a lot of fun’
things of that nature but they were saying a lot of it happens on the training ground. I think they have something like 37 fields - we have four! It really was one of the cooler experiences I’ve had in my life and something I’m going to cherish.
DID IT GIVE YOU A TASTE FOR IT AND
COULD YOU EVER HAVE PLAYED THE GAME PROFESSIONALLY?
I did play a little bit growing up. I was a hyper kid and I wanted to be outfield. They put me in goal and it was cool but I was like: “can I score some goals? Can I get out there?”. Now guys like Usain Bolt are out there and he wants to play soccer... I’m thinking to myself I’d be the best goalkeeper ever.
I would be out here like Tim Howard! It’s a pipe dream, for sure. It would have been fun.
IS SOCCER YOUR RELAXATION AWAY FROM PLAYING FOOTBALL?
Watching football is about analysing it more
than watching it to be a fan at times. When I’m watching soccer, don’t get it twisted, I’m watching Chelsea and thinking: “what are you doing?!”
but it’s as a fan. I’m appreciating the crowd and the environment and right now I’m not able to appreciate the environment with football because I’m in football, I’m in the game, I’m focused and I’m concentrating on my team-mates. When I’m watching on TV, I’m analysing and maybe coming up with a game plan. Watching tennis, watching soccer, watching Formula One is great for me. I’m never going to fit in an F1 car so it’s just a way to relax!
HOW FAR OFF THE LEVELS OF THE ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE IS MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER CURRENTLY?
Look at MLS and that’s starting to gain traction and it was even before Lionel Messi came earlier this year. It takes a while to develop a league and we’d be naive that the MLS will be able to compete with the EPL in even five to ten years, right? It’s going to take time, a certain level of an academy that we don’t really have. Americans don’t really understand that academy thing as we have the colleague system. Go to an MLS game now and
a lot sell out. I have a home in Nashville now and I’m like: “These people are crazy!”. It’s more competitive and people like it.
FOR SOME YEARS NOW THERE’S BEEN SERIOUS TALK ABOUT AN NFL FRANCHISE IN LONDON. COULD YOU SEE THAT BECOMING A REALISTIC PROSPECT?
Im not a logistics guy but I’ve had the privilege
of playing over there twice and for me, Wembley was like a dream come true. Being able to play in that arena was insane and I didn’t know how much passion there was for American football out there. It really was eye-opening and even over there more recently, I extended my trip after the girls’ flag football event and went into a little jersey shop,
a random one, and they were like: “you’re CJ!”. I was thinking: “No way!”. I don’t think it’s out of the realm, it’s possible for sure and I think it would be fun and fans over there would appreciate it.
AND THE JETS WANT TO BE THE BEST- SUPPORTED TEAM IN THE UK. HOW’S THAT GOING?
As much as I’ve talked about Chelsea and I’ve talked about other sports, I am very biased and I do think football is the best sport in the world so any time we have a chance to extend the sport and the support of the Jets, I think it’s a huge thing.
It’s amazing how much it’s grown and the support we’re gaining from the London market and how awesome it is. Hopefully maybe I’ll get some of the tight ends to fly over at the end of the season and have a little thing, a meet-up or something like that.
CJ Uzomah’s first ever european match was an Ajax game
SOCCER360 75