Okwute Izuchukwu

**Last statistical update: 01:18, 4 June 2023 (UTC)**

**Okwute Sean Izuchukwu** is a footballer who played for **Hashtag United** (men).

## Career

### Pre-HTU

Youth
Izuchukwu noted that a difficult family upbringing, that saw him "move around quite a lot", hampered his chances of having an "academy experience". At the age of 15, he was offered a professional contract with Scottish club Stirling Albion. Soon after, he had trials in Denmark with Aalborg and Copenhagen.

Shoreham
Around 2015, Izuchukwu was attached with Southern Combination League - Premier Division side Shoreham.

Lewes
From December 2015 until at least April 2016, Izuchukwu was featuring in the youth system of Lewes.

Burgess Hill Town
In July 2016, following a successful trial, Izuchukwu completed a move to Burgess Hill Town of the Isthmian League - Premier Division; having spent an earlier portion of pre-season with National League South team Whitehawk, with their manager Pablo Asensio recommending him to *The Hillians*. After appearing in a friendly with Three Bridges on 30 July, the player made his competitive debut just under a month later as they drew 1–1 at Hendon on 23 August. On 24 September, Izuchukwu netted his first goal for the club in a draw away to Grays Athletic. 9 appearances later, on 15 November, his second goal arrived during an FA Trophy second qualifying round encounter with Chalfont St Peter. He departed around December, having appeared 27 times in total for them.

Leyton Athletic
In the embryonic stages of 2019, Izuchukwu headed to the Essex Senior League with Leyton Athletic. He experienced a goalscoring debut for them, netting in a 3–1 road loss to St. Margaretsbury on 9 February. Izuchukwu scored again next time out as Leyton conceded six at home to Sporting Bengal United. He appeared in all bar one of the club's fixtures to conclude 2018–19, notably claiming further goals in match-ups with West Essex and Stansted - the latter was their final match of a season that ended with relegation, with the club folding in the early stages of 2019–20.

Bishop's Stortford
In April 2019, whilst still attached to Leyton Athletic, Izuchukwu was with Isthmian League - Premier Division outfit Bishop's Stortford. He was an unused substitute for league wins at Lewes (20 April) and Brightlingsea Regent (22 April).

Other
Prior to joining HTU, Izuchukwu also had stints training with English teams Braintree Town, AFC Hornchurch and Irish side Shamrock Rovers.

Nigeria (youth)
In 2011, Izuchukwu received an under-16 call-up from Nigeria.

### HTU

2019–20
Izuchukwu appeared in the second season of the Hashtag Academy. He reached the final of the competition, though ultimately missed out on a full-time contract to victor Joshua Osude. Despite this, the player was still eventually signed to Jay Devereux's first-team squad ahead of the 2019–20 season. Izuchukwu made his debut for *The Tags* off the bench on 13 July 2019 as HTU won 3–1 at Anstey Nomads. He started for the first time next time out versus Burnham on 16 July and grabbed an assist for Ricky Evans, in what was the second of 5 pre-season appearances. Izuchukwu's competitive bow arrived on 7 August, as he was selected to start a home defeat in the Essex Senior League at the EMR Stadium to Southend Manor.

By the conclusion of October 2019, Izuchukwu had featured 12 times for the club; with just three of those being as a substitute. On 2 November, the player was selected as a starter for a Sporting Bengal United fixture - as the encounter, a league loss, turned out to be his final showing in a HTU senior shirt. He appeared as an unused substitute in subsequent November games with Sawbridgeworth Town and Enfield, prior to heading off to Romania of the Isthmian League - South Central Division.

### Post-HTU

Romania
After leaving HTU, Izuchukwu was soon signed up by Isthmian League - South Central Division team Romania. A home loss to Chalfont St Peter on 30 November 2019 saw the player make his debut, as he appeared for 46 minutes before being subbed off for Vladut Sighiartau. After featuring in a 7 March 2020 defeat on home turf to Waltham Abbey, which took his tally to 9 appearances, the 2019–20 season was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Upon football's return for 2020–21, Izuchukwu participated in 7 matches before the campaign was again stopped due to the pandemic.

Renegade
Izuchukwu started appearing in 2021 as player/manager for Essex Alliance League side Renegade, a team that he founded alongside Vincent Follea. After playing across 2021–22, notably scoring versus Something From Nothing on 19 February 2022, he opened 2022–23 with a goal in a match with Unitey on 17 September 2022 - which was his second appearance of the season.

## Style Of Play

Izuchukwu was primarily used as a defender whilst with HTU, though is capable of playing across midfield and as a forward.

## Personal Life

Work/Education
In 2021, Izuchukwu founded the player-focused Renegade Sports Group - which also allowed him to create a football team, Renegade. Three years prior, in 2018, he also founded creative studio Ignus Amoris Studios. Izuchukwu had attended Rokeby School (2008–2011), Barking Abbey School (2011–2014) and the University of Brighton (2014–2018). He supports Tottenham Hotspur, has a law degree, designs clothes, is a photographer and is a filmmaker. As a youngster, Izuchukwu took part in cross country running.

Family
His brother, Cormac, represented Ireland at cross country running, having also repped that country in rugby union; as well as playing for Ulster. He was born to Nigerian father Okwute, who left the family, and Irish mother Catriona, as he and his brother (with other brother Chinnie and sister Ciara) moved from England to his mother's Irish hometown of Kilcormac around 2007.

## HTU Statistics

Breakdown

'*Other Cups' includes competitions like the FA Trophy, the FA Vase and friendly tournaments. See also: HTUwiki:DataIssues.*

Appearances (13)
* List of appearances of Okwute Izuchukwu

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "Okwute Izuchukwu" .
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "HASHTAG ACADEMY S2E6: THE FINAL 4 GET GRILLED!" , 30 June 2019.
3. ↑ "Match Report: Shoreham 3 - 4 Eastbourne United AFC" .
4. ↑ "Leon Dramis cuts the deficit in half with a well taken finish on the half hour. Okwute Izuchukwu the creator with a deft flick" , 14 March 2016.
5. ↑ "And tonight's team is Stroomberg Dramis Troak Stevenson Smith Christian Coppola Laughlin Robinson Izuchukwu Whitmore" , 25 April 2016.
6. ↑ "Chapman announces two new signings for Burgess Hill Town" , 5 August 2016.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "Burgess Hill Town - Appearances - Okwute Izuchukwu - 2016-2017" .
8. ↑ "Burgess Hill Town - Appearances - Izuchukwu Okwute - 2016-2017" .
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 "Okwute Izuchukwu player stats" .
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Bishop's Stortford - Fixtures and Results - 2018-2019" .
11. ↑ "someone skipped leg day...and everything else day" , 29 February 2020.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "FC Romania - Appearances - Izichukwu Okiwute - 2019-2020" .
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "FC Romania - Appearances - Okwute Izuchukwu - 2019-2020" .
14. ↑ "FC Romania - Appearances - Izichukwu Okiwute - 2020-2021" .
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Renegade FC Team" .
16. ↑ "As we appraoch our first ever game I wanted to thank everyone who has been part of the journey so far" , 4 September 2021.
17. ↑ "Great win yesterday and a much needed 3 points" , 20 February 2022.
18. ↑ "Renegade" (archived) .
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Okwute Izuchukwu" .
20. ↑ "Izu" .
21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Hard Work And Determination Sets Izuchukwu On The Right Path" , 20 May 2020.
22. ↑ "Offaly's newest rugby star gears up for Ulster challenge" , 26 June 2020.