Aidomo Emakhu

Can you begin Aidomo by telling us whereabouts you live?

I am living in Clondalkin

What school or college are you currently attending?

I am in 5 th Year at Moyle Park College. I will do my Leaving Cert next year.

What is your regular position on the pitch?

I am a winger. I can play on both wings but I prefer the left.

Have you played in any other positions?

Yes, I am currently playing in the striker role and the number 10 role because I am going to have to adapt to that. I played as striker also when I was younger.

Where did you begin in football and what clubs have you previously played for?

I started at St. Francis when I was 6 years of age and played there until I was about 10 years old. Then I moved on to Lourdes Celtic for two seasons and then I moved on to Crumlin United. After that I went to Shelbourne in the League of Ireland (underage section).

Describe yourself as a footballer:

I like getting on the ball and I like going at defenders 1 v 1. I’m very direct. I look up to a lot of players at top level, how they take on players and how they go about their game. I try to implement that and add it to my game and try learn from them.

What would you say are your strengths?

My biggest strength would be going at defenders 1 v 1 and taking on players.

How much do you think you have developed since coming to Rovers last year?

I would definitely say I have taken my game up to another level. At first it was me just enjoying football which, of course, I still do but I became more known to the much more defined important details that were required as the level of competition increased. It was only within the last year I’ve started to study the other side of the game which in my case was defending when out of possession. Since then I feel I’ve improved this side of my game and it has contributed massively in my overall performances. Even the professionalism at the club, the little things you have to do, like being on time, eat the right stuff, sleep correctly, all those factors are taken seriously within the club and I think it’s great because it all adds up to becoming a top footballer.

Are there are any other areas of your game that you would like to work on further?

Receiving the ball in tighter spaces and be more confident in my ability.

Do you study videos of other footballers to learn some tips from?

Every single day I watch the likes of Jack Grealish. I love watching him because of the way he just gets the ball and drives on and takes people on. He has bags of confidence that you can’t really give out about. I have to learn and be like him. Eden Hazard is another. I have a few players I look up but Jack Grealish would be the main one.

What does it mean to you to play for Shamrock Rovers?

It’s every kid’s dream in this country really to play for the biggest club in the country. The minute I came here I knew I made the right decision because I have learned so much in the time I have been here, especially in and around the Academy and even when I have been up and around the first team, I have learned so much from the top pros there and the managers as well, they have all been really good to me.

Who is your favourite player worldwide?

The obvious one would be Messi but I like Jack Grealish or Thierry Henry.

Do you have a favourite player amongst the first team at Rovers?

It would have to be Danny (Mandroiu) or Graham Burke. They play in the attacking part of the pitch and the way they get on the ball and make things happen. The creativity they have between them is unbelievable. They have the ability to score goals as well and that is something I would like to do for the first team.

Do you do any training yourself outside of your regular training with Rovers?

I normally do a couple of upper body sessions because that was one of the weakest parts of my game when I was younger and I have been trying to improve ever since and I have proved it to be fair. I need to stay consistent because it would be a big factor in order to go up to the first team.

Did you feel that with Covid-19 last year that was lost time for you?

Not at all. I think it was the year I needed but this may not have been the case for everybody which is completely understandable. Personally, it was a blessing in disguise for me. It gave me a lot of time to sit down and look at areas in my game that I needed to work on and improve. I learned a lot about myself during this time of the year. I knew what I needed to do and the first lockdown gave me the chance to do so; I used it to my advantage and worked every single day. I saw it as an opportunity for me to take my game up to another level.

What do you think of the facilities that Rovers have at the Academy?

It’s top class; it’s really professional. It’s the environment you want to be in as a young footballer. It has everything you need to be a top footballer and it is probably one of the best in the country.

How does it feel to be in around the first team?

It’s an opportunity I’m beyond grateful for and can’t thank all the coaches enough. I try to learn and take in as much as I can in order to improve my game. I learn something new every time I am in with them and I think it has helped me a lot already so far, not just on the pitch but off the pitch also.

What’s the best advice that has been given to you?

The best advice I have been given would have to be from Stephen Bradley. He always tells me to maintain a top attitude and work hard because I will seek many rewards in my career ahead with those two key things.

What sort of music are you into?

I like the likes of Lil Baby, Polo G, Drake. There are a few artists but they would be my top ones.

Outside of football what would you like to do?

I have always said I would like to start a business one day; maybe a clothing brand or something like that.

Do you get a lot of when people don’t pronounce your name correctly?

I do but I don’t really mind it. You tell people and they don’t know how to say it so you just accept it for what they say.