Exclusive:Hibs should have '100 per cent' faith in Scottish Cup anniversary repeat mission as rising star chases glory
Nigerian-born parents supporting youngster from afar during Easter Road adventure
Rising Hibs star Kanayo Megwa has “100 per cent” belief that he and his team-mates can mark the 10th anniversary of the club’s famous Scottish Cup triumph day with a repeat run at Hampden glory. But their focus is completely fixated on this weekend’s clash with Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline at East End Park.
Megwa, currently enjoying his most consistent run of game time with Hibs after stepping into the right wingback role and keeping Chris Cadden out of the starting XI, has been at Hibs since he moved north from London at the age of just 16, winning a place in the academy at East Mains after playing in open trials down south. Still just 21, he’s spoken about the difficulties involved in moving away from his Nigerian-born parents and settling in Scotland.
And the right back, improved by helpful loan spells at Airdrie and Partick Thistle, credited current boss David Gray for helping him develop into a first-team regular. One with more improving to do.
Hibs are unbeaten since Gray dropped Megwa into the first XI just before Christmas, the youngster featuring prominently in home wins over Hearts and Aberdeen, as well as draws with Dundee United and Motherwell, plus a victory away to Kilmarnock that saw him limp off the plastic pitch with shin pains. With Dunfermline away in the Cup to come this weekend, the defender is obviously eager to be part of another great adventure in Scotland’s most prestigious knock-out competition, with Hibs looking to emulate the hoodoo-busting victory of 2016.
Defender well aware of club’s past heroics
“The Scottish Cup this weekend is a great opportunity, such a big thing for this club, especially,” said Megwa. “Obviously, I knew about when Hibs won it before, how big it was, you know. I've seen all the videos of the last time they won, with the gaffer as captain.
“It’s something that we take really seriously. We just want to win every game - and hopefully win the whole thing. “
Asked if he thought Hibs had the potential to go on and lift the trophy at Hampden in May, Megwa said: “Yeah, 100 per cent. I think the team's so strong.
“We've got so much quality. It's just that there's things that obviously we need to still build on. But with the team we have, there's no doubt we can beat anyone in the league.
“Personally, I’m just happy that the gaffer has given me this opportunity. I just had to take it, and I'm happy I did.
“The gaffer has always helped me throughout. When he was assistant manager, because he's a right-back as well, he was always giving me one-to-one tips. It’s always good to have a manager like that.
“The best advice he’s given me is just to believe in yourself, and just go and play with confidence, especially in the derby, you know. That’s such a big game, but he just said that he believes in me, so I believe in myself.”
Megwa moved north at age of 16
Mum Ngozi and dad Nnamdi were both at Easter Road to see Hibs win the derby in a five-goal thriller. Always supportive of their son’s footballing ambitions, they didn’t find it terribly easy when young Kanayo travelled to Scotland for a great adventure at such a young age.
“I mean, my mum hated it when I came up here at 16,” admitted Megwa. “But they believe in me. They know that I wasn’t going to take the opportunity for granted. So, they just trust me and I'm happy to make them proud.
“I was 16 when I came here, a big move from Peckham in London. Yeah, I got scouted from a game, a school game, so I never really expected to come this far; but I'm always grateful that I'm here.
“It was tough originally, just understanding the accents and the coach and stuff, but I got used to it, you know. The guys at the academy were good to me, and they're still friends of mine now, so they really helped me settle in.
“I had only really played school football when I came here, along with some trials at clubs. I got scouted and decided to make the big step - a great step.
“I never really thought it would happen, that I’d get the chance to play at this level. But getting scouted when I was playing at Brookhurst College changed everything.
Loan spells with Airdrie and Partick Thistle
“The journey so far, I’ve had loans at Partick Thistle and Airdrie, which really helped me. It was really good, you know, playing men's football for the first time.
“Different managers, different expectations, different teams. It really helped me develop my game and, yeah, I'm always grateful for those type of opportunities.
“I'm happy that I've done well in loan spells. So I just need to carry what I've done on loan into the games now.
“My parents try to come to games when they can, although they’re not here very often. When they do come, it’s nice for them to see me in the first team.
“And they were here for the derby, so that was good. They've been here for the past week or so, trying to take in as many games as they can.
“They’ve always been my biggest supporters and I want to make them proud in every game I play. So, when they come to watch, you know, it's that little extra motivation.
“I’ve been dropped into some big games so far. But I'm just waiting for my opportunity and when it comes, I just have to take it, you know. I can't complain. I just have to sit and watch the people in front of me and just hope when my time comes, I take it.
“But I feel more comfortable with it now. I feel more used to being around the first team, especially with the players. But I still want to do more for myself.”