Why Henry, Iwobi are my favourite players – Filmmaker Nkanga

Emily Nkanga, a photographer, filmmaker, and producer, discusses her career journey and her love for football in an interview with Peter Akinbo. Initially, Nkanga wanted to study psychology but later chose mass communication at her university because it was more practical and offered a broader range of disciplines. It was during her first semester that Nkanga discovered filmmaking and realized it was the perfect fit for her.

Nkanga credits a photographer mentor for encouraging her to pursue photography professionally, which ultimately led her to a job with Thierry Henry. Her family has been supportive of her career path, with her mother, who was once an actor, and her father, a military man, both understanding the viability of her chosen profession.

Nkanga considers the process of filmmaking as both her favorite and most challenging aspect. She enjoys the constant evolution and creative satisfaction of guiding a vision from start to finish. However, the challenges include troubleshooting unexpected issues and overcoming obstacles that arise throughout the production process.

Her passion for sports stems from her desire to build social connections. She discovered that football, in particular, allowed her to connect with a larger group of people, leading to the development of a tight-knit community around her local community team, AFC Muswell Hill. This experience has also led her to cover sports for PUNCH for nearly two years.

When asked about her favorite teams and players, Nkanga expresses her unwavering loyalty to Arsenal, a team she supports due to its proximity to her home. She has had the privilege of interacting with Thierry Henry, who she considers her favorite player of all time. Additionally, Nkanga follows both the Nigerian men's and women's national teams closely and admires players such as Alex Iwobi, Asisat Oshoala, and Chiamaka Nnadozie.

Nkanga herself plays football as a goalkeeper for AFC Muswell Hill, where she has been recognized as Player of the Year for the past season.