Towering Premier League record breaker Onuachu opens up on challenge faced due to height

Super Eagles forward Paul Onuachu recently discussed the challenges of being a tall player, highlighting limitations he believes taller athletes face, Soccernet.ng reports.

During the 2022–23 English Premier League season, the Nigerian international set a height record after moving from KRC Genk to Southampton.

Surpassing Newcastle’s Dan Burn, who stands at 198 cm, Onuachu became the tallest player in the Premier League at 201 cm.

Despite this distinction, Onuachu expressed some reservations about the advantages of height, citing limitations in areas such as speed and agility compared to shorter players.

He acknowledged that while he possesses some qualities, such as strength and dominance in aerial duels, he understands the trade-offs.

“For example, if you are short, you will probably have important advantages such as speed, agility, fast movement, and fast rotation. I can say that I can do some of these about my own height, but of course not as fast as short players.” said the Southampton Loanee.

Previously, while playing for Midtjylland and KRC Genk, Onuachu showcased his prowess by scoring a total of 159 goals in 313 appearances. His height likely contributed to his goal-scoring abilities.

Speaking about the advantages of height, Onuachu emphasized the benefits in winning aerial battles and retaining possession for the team. He stressed the importance of embracing one’s strengths and weaknesses, regardless of height.

He added: “When you are tall, you can get a significant advantage, especially in the dominance of head strokes. I can also be strong and keep the ball more comfortably for the team. In other words, whether you are tall or short, you should do your job by seeing the pros and cons of it and accepting it,”

Despite his success in the Super Lig, Onuachu was notably excluded from the 25-man squad set to participate in the upcoming 2023 AFCON tournament for the Super Eagles.

Ayomide Oguntimehin

Ayomide holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English and currently works as a News Writer. He has more than five years of experience in digital journalism, with a strong background in researching and writing compelling news.