Kildare's Idah receives first international call up
Chris Idah has been called up to the Ireland U17 squad
Towering Klub Kildare striker Chris Idah has received his first international call up after he was included in a 22 man squad Ireland Under 17 squad for two friendlies in Spain this week.
The young Boys in Green will face Finland on Wednesday followed by Hungary on Saturday, both games will take place in Oliva Nova near Valencia.
The games will serve as preparation for the Under-17s EURO Qualifiers due to take place in Poland next month. O’Brien’s team were drawn in Group A6 against hosts Poland, as well as Iceland and Belgium with the team finishing top earning a place at the finals in Albania.
The call up is deserved recognition for the 6’5 striker, who lives in Kilcock, after a sensational National League season for Klub Kildare through 2024.
A brother of Celtic striker Adam, Idah joined Klub Kildare from Bohemians at the start of the 2024 season. Born in 2008, Idah was a year younger than most of his opponents in the Under 17 but still lead the forward superbly for a Kildare side that qualified for the Elite Phase of the competition. The big man bagged 16 goals and five assists in all competitions and proved a real handful for any side unlucky enough to come up against him.
Drilling down deeper it’s not surprising this young man is such a talent. He has excelled at basketball for years and previous to joining, enjoyed a four week break in China playing basketball. In fact if it wasn’t for his love of Ireland and the game here, Idah could have stayed to further his Basketball game in his mother’s native country, they were keen to lock him down such was his talent. Chris is Irish, born to proud Nigerian and Chinese parents. He has thrived in the Klub Kildare environment since joining and anyone around the club would tell you he is a real ray of sunshine even on the bleakest Irish days. The jokes, the laugh, smile of someone enjoying their football has seen Idah progress rapidly.
Manager of the u17 side Jamie Broughall is proud of Idah’s progression.
“Chris has all the tools to go as far as anyone in the game at his age presently. His personality, his uniqueness, his physical attributes, his quick feet and most importantly his ability to deliver when it matters, goals assists, involvements, he really has it all’.
This admiration for young Chris isn’t just from the club and staff, he won the player of the year award at last year’s Kilashee House Hotel bash with a landslide nod of the cap by his teammates.
“This year he has really stepped up his training and intensity and already he is making his mark in the league at under 20 level, he scored numerous pre-season goals at u20 level and really shone against some of the leagues big hitters in this time. Everyone at the club is so proud of how far Chris has come and have every faith he will fulfil his potential,” said Broughall.
