With the Rapids’ preseason campaign officially underway, newcomer defender Chidozie “Chido” Awaziem has wasted no time integrating into his new team and building the foundation for what he hopes to be a season that ends in hoisting MLS Cup.
Awaziem grew up the youngest of five boys, a household constantly teeming with energy. The center back’s childhood was what he describes as rough, the family “surviving, keep pushing, keep believing that one day is gonna get better.” Awaziem played soccer in the streets with his friends, a pastime influenced by his four older brothers who played in the Nigerian league. Throughout his childhood it quickly became something he didn’t just have fun with, but something he was being recognized for.
“I was getting a lot of comments that I was quite good with the ball, and I could make it a career,” he remembered. “So I got a lot of advice and push from my friends and colleagues, family, and I never gave up.”
“I got opportunity to play with my academy in Nigeria, we had a training game against some other team. I played really well and I got some scouts from various clubs who came over to watch, and they were impressed with what they saw in me. That was it. It all happened real quick, and I got called up by FC Porto, and that was how I started.”
The years between that signing to where Awaziem is now, spending the sun-soaked days with his new teammates in Querétaro, are a whirlwind of clubs, teams and languages.
While with Porto, the Nigerian was loaned out to various clubs across Europe, including FC Nantes of Ligue 1, Çaykur Rizespor of the Turkish Süper Lig, and Madrid-based CD Leganés. His eventual move to Boavista, also based in Porto, saw a loan back to Turkey with Alanyaspor and later, to HNK Hajduk Split of the Croation First League. Throughout the journeys with each club, Awaziem assimilated to each city’s culture and language.
The defender feigns humility when listing off his list of languages spoken, but it’s hard to not be impressed.
“English, Spanish, Portuguese, French and a couple of Nigerian languages,” he rattles off. “I've always loved languages. Wherever I go, I just try to know the language so I can understand when managers are talking, when people are having some conversations... With those languages, I know it's gonna help me in my career as well.”
Awaziem’s linguistic talents have already been put to work around his new teammates in preseason, including conversations in Portuguese with Brazilians Rafael Navarro and Rapids 2 signing Anderson Rosa, chats in Spanish with Omir Fernandez and Daniel Chacón and once his green card process finalizes and he rejoins the squad, presumably some discussions with Kévin Cabral in French.
Some chemistry building with teammates is aided by the familiar faces of Reggie Cannon, who Awaziem knew at Boavista, and Ian Murphy, who moved with Awaziem from FC Cincinnati in the offseason.
"I think Chido really helped me when he came to Cincinnati, just having so much experience and just calmness about him,” said Murphy of his fellow center back. “I think it's easy to play with him. He's obviously a great player, and he helps you out, just on the field and just talking to you as well.”
That calmness is reiterated by Cannon and Armas, and self-identified by Awaziem himself when asked how he’d describe his playing style: “I’m calm with the ball, I try to take the right decision and be aggressive and fast.”
His assuredness is visible as he moves on the ball in training and the Rapids’ first preseason scrimmage against Celaya F.C. The defender played the second half of the friendly with the Mexican side alongside Rapids defensive mainstays Keegan Rosenberry, Sam Vines and Michael Edwards.
Off the pitch, Awaziem prioritizes talking to his family, then friends and moves along with other downtime interests like video games and tennis. Tennis is a fairly new hobby for the Nigerian, just picking it up in Cincinnati when he would play with teammates on off days. He looks forward to finding a court in Denver once he gets fully settled in after preseason, but says it could be interesting to join in on a golf outing with his teammates too, as the majority of the Rapids’ squad spends holidays and off days on the green.
But for now, Awaziem is dialed into preparing for 2025 and making his mark with his new team. His long-term goal for the season is simple:
“Honestly, I just want to see myself lifting up the MLS Cup,” he said. “I've always wanted to be trophy title holder. It's been a long time since I lifted a trophy, and I really want to lift one. So I'm here to give my best and make sure we achieve that.”
