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Stories of sisters in sports have been made popular by the Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, who ushered in a new era of power and athleticism that has changed women’s tennis forever.
From the Williams in tennis to the Ogwumikes in basketball, the unique thing about this sisterhood is rivalry and how it fuels exceptional achievements.
Nigeria’s emerging sporting talents, Bernice and Anna Onoriode, are poised to join this elite group as their remarkable stories unfold in athletics and chess, showcasing dedication, passion, and drive that are peculiar to the family.
Born in Kaduna State to a Delta father and Anambra mother, their journey into sports began three years ago under the tutelage of their father, Felix, a renowned athletics coach at N-Youth Sports Academy, Abuja, which is owned by the Nigerian Tulip International College, Abuja.
The Onoriode sisters attracted attention in September when they faced each other in the preliminary rounds of the chess event of the National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State.
At that competition, the 13-year-old Bernice represented Delta State, while her younger sister, Anna, represented Kaduna State. The game was won by Bernice, who eventually bagged a silver medal.
“It was a very strong emotional moment for me,” their father Felix told PUNCH Sports Extra.
“I had nursed the feeling of the clash happening since it’s a tournament where teams or players are to play each other in a round based on qualification or performance, so I had to be around to control the outcome. Also, I knew that Anna, the younger sister, had conceived to defeat her elder sister Bernice during one of our pep talks.”
Bernice and Anna have played a lot of games together, but that was their first competitive game against each other.
“She was not supposed to win that game. It was just overconfidence because I was winning the game. I have been beating her before, and she wins some games too,” Anna said.
“Sometimes she beats me, and I also beat her. And in sports, there is nothing like sisterhood unless we are playing on the same team, so I didn’t feel anything after the game in Asaba,” Bernice also said.
On why they represented different states at the Games, their father explained that Bernice played for Delta to avoid a repeat of the disappointment she had faced while trying to represent Team Kaduna in 2022.
“She qualified for the 2022 National Sports Festival, but Kaduna dropped the female chess team. To avoid that, we contacted chess coaches in Delta, and she had trials there to qualify. She even wanted to do athletics for Kaduna this year, but they were dropped again, so she had to go play chess for Delta.”
Aside from chess, Bernice, the elder sister, is an athletic prodigy who specialises in sprints and long jumps. She hauled five gold medals at the MTN Champs and also won bronze at the national finals of Season 2 in Calabar.
“Athletics is my most preferred sport, and I also play scrabble, chess, and karate. That was my second medal in chess, and the last one was a bronze at the 2023 National Youth Games,” Bernice said.
For her sister Anna, it’s just chess and scrabble, and they strongly believe they could make a name for themselves in their respective sports.
“I don’t have endurance like my sister; that is why I am not doing athletics. Our dream is to be number one, whether we are doing the same sport or not,” Anna said.
The sibling rivalry between Bernice and Anna is the wind in their sail. Their father, Felix, who doubles as their coach, expertly navigates this dynamic, ensuring mutual support and constructive competition.
“I try not to pressure them but rather let them keep enjoying the game and let’s see where the game can take all of us to. My kids playing chess is one of the best decisions I have made as a parent. Primarily, the chess game has helped Bernice to calm her hyperactivity and increase her attention span.
As Bernice and Anna continue to excel, comparisons to the Williams and Ogwumike sisters become inevitable. Like these renowned sisters, they share a strong family bond, fostering mutual support, and possess innate talent honed through dedicated training.
