Lagos — A member of the United States' U-17 team, Boyd Okwuonu has disclosed his delight to play at the on going FIFA U- 17 World Cup in Nigeria which is the country where his parents were born.

The 16 year- old defender is one of the two players whose roots are from Nigeria in the US team coached by Wilmer Cabrera.The other starlet is the beanpole Juan Agudelo.

Okwuonu in an encounter with THISDAY said that the U-17 World Cup has afforded the big opportunity to make a second visit to Nigeria since he was born. "I am very happy to see Nigeria as a grown up adult. My parents are from Ogidi in Anambra State from where they migrated to America where I was born in 1993. My first visit was when I was three years old. It gives me the greatest satisfaction playing before the Nigerian public and travelling across the country. Nigeria is a great country with an incredible appetite for football. I hope to come back here again" Okwuonu said.

The full back who plays for Tulsa Thunder and was among the set of players scouted by Wilmer in 2007 for a World Cup qualifying campaign in Tijuana, Mexico early this year.

He has not got a decent look in at Nigeria 2009 as Cabrera has only offered him just three minutes action as a substitute in one game as the Americans set up a round of 16 meeting with Italy in Kaduna on Wednesday. " This is a team sport and I will bid my time as we progress" Okwuonu said.

Also Colombian born Cabrera who is on his second visit to Nigeria played glowing adulation to the locals for the excellent reception to the American team as well as the incredible atmosphere around all the matches at Nigeria 2009.

"This is my second time in Nigeria and I must say the experience is wonderful. The crowds made of kids and families coming to the matches and all of them of them drumming dancing and smiling to support soccer is fantastic. The facilities are of high standard and the whole efforts put into organising the tournament is commendable" Cabrera said.