2008 Woodie Awards
Twin Powers
Sade and Kiara Akpore make double impact on women's soccer
Zachary Groves
Issue date: 8/23/07 Section: Sports
When opponents charge down the field against the SIUE women's soccer team, chances are they'll do a double take with a pair of Cougar players. A vision test won't be necessary, though, because they may be freshmen Sade and Kiara Akpore chasing down the ball.
The identical twins, who hail from Galesburg, are enjoying the chance to play for the same college team.
"We're pretty much just a package come together," Kiara said of herself and sister Sade. "I'd never even imagined going to school without her."
To their luck, SIUE Head coach Lynda Bowers happened to find a need for both of them.
"It worked out that they were both quality players," Bowers said. "They're both very fit and they run like track stars."
Bowers said she plans to use Sade in the backfield while moving Kiara from the forward position to midfield.
The two came to school with chemistry, and according to teammate Elizabeth Valenti, a team captain, they're both "real nice and real outgoing" as well as being athletically gifted.
Sade says that might not have been the case had she attended SIUE by herself.
"I would have been shy," she said.
A key trait Bowers has found in the twins is that they play without fear, something uncommon among freshmen players.
"I think they are going through an adjustment period, but I don't think it's a lack of confidence thing," Bowers said. "I think it's just (a) 'welcome to college soccer' more of a mentality."
Kiara may have more than that on her mind. She said adjusting from forward to midfield has been a frustrating experience.
"My nerves get the best of me," Kiara said. "I run around looking confused, but I just try to give it my all most of the time. We'll see how it goes."
Sade said she has her back during these trying times.
"I just have to encourage her," she said. "She'll be all right."
Another change for the Akpores involved going from an atmosphere where they carried their teams on their shoulders to a place where teammates already pick up the slack. Additionally, they're playing a more structured game under Bowers.
The identical twins, who hail from Galesburg, are enjoying the chance to play for the same college team.
"We're pretty much just a package come together," Kiara said of herself and sister Sade. "I'd never even imagined going to school without her."
To their luck, SIUE Head coach Lynda Bowers happened to find a need for both of them.
"It worked out that they were both quality players," Bowers said. "They're both very fit and they run like track stars."
Bowers said she plans to use Sade in the backfield while moving Kiara from the forward position to midfield.
The two came to school with chemistry, and according to teammate Elizabeth Valenti, a team captain, they're both "real nice and real outgoing" as well as being athletically gifted.
Sade says that might not have been the case had she attended SIUE by herself.
"I would have been shy," she said.
A key trait Bowers has found in the twins is that they play without fear, something uncommon among freshmen players.
"I think they are going through an adjustment period, but I don't think it's a lack of confidence thing," Bowers said. "I think it's just (a) 'welcome to college soccer' more of a mentality."
Kiara may have more than that on her mind. She said adjusting from forward to midfield has been a frustrating experience.
"My nerves get the best of me," Kiara said. "I run around looking confused, but I just try to give it my all most of the time. We'll see how it goes."
Sade said she has her back during these trying times.
"I just have to encourage her," she said. "She'll be all right."
Another change for the Akpores involved going from an atmosphere where they carried their teams on their shoulders to a place where teammates already pick up the slack. Additionally, they're playing a more structured game under Bowers.
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