'It Can Make You Sick, Physically And Mentally' - Three-Time World Cupper Chikwelu On Lockdown

Madrid CFF attacking midfielder Rita Chikwelu has confessed that she is finding it difficult to cope with the lockdown put in place as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The former Nigeria captain has been a revelation since joining Madrid CFF from Swedish club Kristianstad in the January transfer window, scoring 4 goals in seven appearances in the Spanish Primera División Femenina.

To maintain her fitness levels and as instructed by her coaches, Chikwelu, who shares an apartment with international teammate Chidinma Okeke, has been training on her own.

"The work without the football is the most boring. When you’re training, fitness work is the least fun, you have to do it anyway but it’s never that enjoyable," Chikwelu said to Football London.

"It's when we play football you have the feelings."

She continued : "My daily routine is wake up in the morning, eat breakfast, do my programme, come back in the room, watch Netflix, eat lunch, come back again, watch Netflix.

"Sometimes I rewatch some games I played a few weeks ago. I just want games to watch!

"It's boring, frustrating, sometimes when you're sat down for so long your back and neck start aching.

"It can make you sick, physically and mentally, when you're stuck in one place for 24 hours. You can get crazy. Nothing is happening."

A three-time World Cupper with the Nigerian national team, Chikwelu has a contract with Madrid CFF until June 30, 2020.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel