Having played his entire basketball career far from where he was born and raised, Bourg's young big man brings adaptability and ambition to his new team.
Godwin Omenaka left 'home' in Hungary to elevate game with Bourg
Player Spotlight
4 Mins read
Godwin Omenaka is not your average Nigerian newcomer to the BKT EuroCup. The power forward has actually called Hungary home for the last eight years, and he comes to Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse looking to elevate his game.
Omenaka has been playing in the Hungarian League for the past five full seasons, averaging 9.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 2022-23 for Egis Kormend. He also appeared on the international stage for the first time last season, picking up 7.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in the FIBA Europe Cup.
"I'm very excited about playing in the EuroCup because it is a whole different level of basketball and challenge," said Omenaka, who turned 23 a week after his debut EuroCup game with unbeaten Bourg. "The biggest thing I learned from the FIBA Europe Cup is to be tough and the broad experience of the games."
Omenaka's experience in basketball was very limited when he arrived in Hungary in 2015 as a 15-year-old. He had discovered basketball only in 2013 after suffering an injury while playing his first love – football.
Omenaka was recruited to Europe and initially had hoped to go to Spain and Real Madrid, but could not get a visa for the country. He ended up in southwestern Hungary, not far from the Croatia border, at the Ratgeber Academy in Pecs.
"I never ever heard of or knew that a country like Hungary existed. Me going to Hungary and to Ratgeber Academy was fate," he said.
Omenaka left behind a big family in the Anambra State in the southeastern Nigeria. He is the sixth of seven children – four boys and three girls – with the oldest sibling being 37 years old.
"Leaving my family behind was tough and a hard decision, but I had to do what I am supposed to do to help my family," said Omenaka.
After starting with Ratgeber, Omenaka would land with first division side Debreceni Egyetem (DEAC) in 2017-18 and actually made his professional debut two days before his 17th birthday, playing against Atomeromu. He played one more pro game that season and went onto the club's junior team. Omenaka went on to play 28 games for DEAC's pro team in 2018-19 as an 18-year-old.
"My improvement was due to hard work. I did extra work before or after each practice," he said.
Omenaka moved to Alba Fehervar in 2020 and spent two seasons there. After the 2021-22 season, the 2.05-meter big man's accomplishments were recognized with his first appearance for the Nigerian national team in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 African Qualifiers. He picked up 6 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in a win over Guinea in August 2022.
"The World Cup African Qualifiers were a whole new experience: representing my country and getting to meet new people from different parts of the world," he said of the game in Ivory Coast. "I learned to appreciate and adapt to certain situations that I find myself in."
Omenaka was selected to play for Nigeria again this past summer at the Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament in the Nigerian capital of Lagos.
"It was awesome representing my country for the second time, and in my home country. It was a whole new vibe to be home," said Omenaka, who had family present.
The games did not go as he had hope with Nigeria losing to Senegal and Mali to miss out on the final Olympic qualifiers next summer.
"Losing to both teams taught me that a tree cannot make a forest. We have to be a team to perform great on the court," said Omenaka, who totaled 2 points, 4 rebounds and 3 blocks in a combined 17 minutes.
Omenaka knew before the tournament in Lagos that he would be joining Bourg this season. After eight years in Hungary, it was time for another level.
"I chose France and Bourg because I needed a place where I can learn more and elevate my game and grow in my career," he said.
Indeed, it is time for Omenaka to make a new home.