Guy Kuemian Venanle is one of the most exciting footballers in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).<br /><br />Blessed with pace, trickery, an eye for the unconventional pass and a low centre of gravity, the attacker is wowing the fans with touches of brilliance week after week.<br /><br />He made his debut as a second half substitute for Rivers United in the 1-2 defeat to MFM FC at the Agege Stadium, Lagos and quickly made a decisive contribution; crossing unerringly for Obomate Frederick to head home late in the game.<br /><br />The Ivorian netted his first goal of the season on match day five as Rivers United beat Nasarwa United 1-0 in a tension-soaked game in Port Harcourt.<br /><br />He sat down with Rivers United media to discuss how he&rsquo;s settled in at his new surroundings. <br /><br /><b>Rivers United Media: How did you feel scoring your first goal for Rivers United?</b><br /><br /><b>Guy Kuemian</b>: I was very happy to score that goal for Rivers United particularly as it was the winner and it arrived so late in the game.<br /><br />The goal was important because it gave us a win which helped take us up to fifth on the league standings. <br /><br />It is not easy to play in the Nigerian league&hellip;.it is an extremely difficult league to be successful in but I will strive to score more. <br /><br /><b>RUFCM: Rivers United is your first football club in Nigeria but where did you play previously before coming to Port Harcourt?</b><br /><br /><b>GK</b>: I previously played for Moroccan clubs, Moghreb AtleticoT&eacute;touan, Raja Casablanca as well as a Gabonese club, US Bitam.<br /><br />I joined Rivers United from an Equatoguinean club, Leones Vegetarianos.<br /><b><br />RUFCM: Which of these previous football clubs did you enjoy your best memories as a professional footballer?</b><br /><br /><b>GK</b>: I had a great time in Morocco with Raja but my time at Leones Vegetarianos is absolutely unforgettable.<br /><br /><b>RUFCM: How does the NPFL rate with the Moroccan Botola and the leagues in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea?</b><br /><br /><b>GK</b>: If you are not strong, physically, you cannot survive in the Nigerian league. I was shocked when I first saw a Nigerian league game.<br /><br />The defenders don&rsquo;t hold back in their tackles and the pace is something else.<br /><br />In Morocco and the other countries I played in previously, the teams are more tactical but nowhere near as physically strong as the Nigerian teams.<br /><br />I am adapting to the NPFL slowly and I even scored in my last game. That will give me the motivation to do even more in the days to come.<br /><b><br />RUFCM: Your wife and two kids are in Abidjan; how difficult is it coping without your family? </b><br /><br /><b>GK</b>: It&rsquo;s hard&hellip;.very hard but then, that&rsquo;s football for you. As a professional, you know that sometimes, you have to travel far away from home away from the people you love.<br /><br />This is not the first time I am leaving my family behind in Abidjan. Nigeria is the fourth country I am playing in, professionally.<br /><br />However, I am working to see that I relocate my family to Nigeria.<br /><br /><b>RUFCM: You don&rsquo;t speak a word of English. How do you communicate with your teammates who are predominantly Anglophone? </b><br /><br /><b>GK</b>: Well, it&rsquo;s not the easiest thing in the world but I have a friend in the team, Yaovi Douhadji who speaks English.<br /><br />We had been friends even before I joined Rivers United so he helps me in that regard.<br /><br />I want to thank him for helping me adapt. I have also made new friends like (teammate), Gabriel Olalekan who is now desperately trying to speak French.<br /><br /><b>RUFCM: Douhadji has just been called up to Togo&rsquo;s national team&hellip;any chance of you getting a call up to play for your country any time soon? </b><br /><br /><b>GK</b>: It&rsquo;s the dream of every footballer to represent his country so yes, I hope so but the Ivory Coast is blessed with so many world-class footballers.<br /><br />We will see how it goes but I am really happy for Yaovi. He has important games coming up for Togo against Tunisia and I wish<br />him the best.<br /><br /><b>RUFCM: Guy, thanks for your time.</b><br /><br /><b>GK</b>: Any time.<br /><br /><b>Igho Kingsley</b><br />