Completed Event: Men's Soccer at Columbia on October 11, 2025 , Win , 2, to, 1
Final
Men's Soccer
at Columbia
2
1
A Q & A with Eduvie Ikoba: Fueling his Soul
7/10/2024 2:13:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Ikoba '19 is now playing professionally in Seoul, Korea
HANOVER, N.H. – A member of the Big Green class of 2019 and three-time Ivy League Champion, Eduvie Ikoba is living every athlete's dream, playing the sport he loves at the professional level.
Now with the Seoul e-Land FC in Korea, Ikoba looks back on his time with Dartmouth, how he grew both on and off the field, and leaves his words of wisdom for those that come after him.
Q: Tell me about your experience as a Dartmouth student-athlete.
A: It was challenging, but I can say it was definitely worth the struggle. I grew a lot as an individual, made lifelong friendships, and got the opportunity to win three Ivy League Championships, which I'll cherish forever.
Q: What did you learn? How did you grow?
A: I learned how to balance training and performing at a high level, while staying on top of my schoolwork. When I arrived on campus, I was mainly focused on playing well and making an impact on the team, but I don't think I allowed myself enough time for classes. I quickly realized that I would have to become better with time management, which meant setting clear goals and prioritizing them. I also learned how to deal with setbacks I struggled with hamstring injuries twice during my collegiate career and finding ways to stay positive was important for me. I'm glad to have learned those lessons because it allowed me to improve on the field and in the classroom.
Q: What was your favorite experience and why?
A: I'd say my favorite experience was winning our third consecutive Ivy League Championship because I played a big part in that match, and I knew that we were leaving a legacy behind that the whole program could take pride in.
Q: Where are you now?
A: I'm currently playing in Seoul, Korea for a team called Seoul e-land FC!
Q: What is it like playing professionally?
A: It's challenging at times, but I'm grateful for the opportunity to keep doing what I love. Playing professionally has given me a chance to travel all over the world and meet new people. I consider myself lucky because, as a kid, so many people dream of becoming a professional athlete. I'm one of the few who was able to turn those dreams into reality! A majority of the players I've encountered had to choose between school and soccer from a young age, so having a degree from Dartmouth also gives me a lot of freedom to play without the worry of life after my career ends.
Q: What does a typical day in your life look like?
A: Normally, I have one training at 10 a.m., so I wake up around 8 a.m. I eat breakfast at home, then I drive about 40 minutes to our training facility which is just outside of Seoul. I like to get there an hour early because it gives me time to stretch, get treatment from the physio staff, or just do a quick gym session. After that, training begins and lasts for a couple of hours. Once we finish, I can choose to eat lunch at the clubhouse or travel back home, Typically, I get home around 2 p.m., and the rest of the day is free for me.
If I'm tired, I take a nap for an hour or I try to find some activity to do with my girlfriend who is here with me. There are a ton of things to do nearby, and we still haven't actually crossed everything off our to do list! One we're back home, we make dinner at home, then watch Netflix for a while. It's a good way to just wind down and relax before dinner. If I'm still sore, I try to go to one of the local saunas to help my body recover.
I hadn't used them until I started playing professionally, but I find that they really help with recovery and building endurance, so it's been almost like a secret weapon for me! After that, it's usually pretty late s I prepare for bed, or if I can't fall asleep I like to call family and friends in the U.S. The time difference is about 13-16 hours depending on where they are, so it's nice to get a chance to talk to everyone, even if it's only for a few minutes.
Q: How is it different and alike to your time at Dartmouth?
A: Playing professionally is different because it's a full-time job. It can be stressful at times because there's a strong emphasis on performance and results. I have a lot more free time than I had at Dartmouth, but I'm constantly thinking about ways to improve my game. I spend most of my time prioritizing rest and recovery because we play a lot of high intensity games during the course of the season. Anything that can give me even a 1% advantage makes a difference in the long run. I'd say the biggest similarity would be the passion that comes from playing. I still get the same joy from scoring and playing well that I had in college. At Dartmouth, even an off-season training game was exciting for me, and I don't think that will ever change.
Q: How did Dartmouth and the men's soccer program prepare you for where you are now?
A: Dartmouth taught me how to quickly adapt to changes, and that's something that I've taken with me everywhere since. Each term had different training schedules and course loads, so it was important to find consistency in my daily life that would allow me to excel on and off the pitch. Each country I've played in has its own style of play, different languages and cultures, and different expectations from the players. I don't think I would've been able to perform well if I hadn't been forced to adjust to those changes during my time at Dartmouth.
Q: What is your biggest piece of advice?
A: My biggest piece of advice would be to keep trying to improve and always try to have fun. It's a gift to be able to play your sport at collegiate or professional level, and I think a large part of my journey comes down to keeping things simple and trying to make the most of those opportunities.
Now with the Seoul e-Land FC in Korea, Ikoba looks back on his time with Dartmouth, how he grew both on and off the field, and leaves his words of wisdom for those that come after him.
Q: Tell me about your experience as a Dartmouth student-athlete.
A: It was challenging, but I can say it was definitely worth the struggle. I grew a lot as an individual, made lifelong friendships, and got the opportunity to win three Ivy League Championships, which I'll cherish forever.
Q: What did you learn? How did you grow?
A: I learned how to balance training and performing at a high level, while staying on top of my schoolwork. When I arrived on campus, I was mainly focused on playing well and making an impact on the team, but I don't think I allowed myself enough time for classes. I quickly realized that I would have to become better with time management, which meant setting clear goals and prioritizing them. I also learned how to deal with setbacks I struggled with hamstring injuries twice during my collegiate career and finding ways to stay positive was important for me. I'm glad to have learned those lessons because it allowed me to improve on the field and in the classroom.
Q: What was your favorite experience and why?
A: I'd say my favorite experience was winning our third consecutive Ivy League Championship because I played a big part in that match, and I knew that we were leaving a legacy behind that the whole program could take pride in.
Q: Where are you now?
A: I'm currently playing in Seoul, Korea for a team called Seoul e-land FC!
Q: What is it like playing professionally?
A: It's challenging at times, but I'm grateful for the opportunity to keep doing what I love. Playing professionally has given me a chance to travel all over the world and meet new people. I consider myself lucky because, as a kid, so many people dream of becoming a professional athlete. I'm one of the few who was able to turn those dreams into reality! A majority of the players I've encountered had to choose between school and soccer from a young age, so having a degree from Dartmouth also gives me a lot of freedom to play without the worry of life after my career ends.
Q: What does a typical day in your life look like?
A: Normally, I have one training at 10 a.m., so I wake up around 8 a.m. I eat breakfast at home, then I drive about 40 minutes to our training facility which is just outside of Seoul. I like to get there an hour early because it gives me time to stretch, get treatment from the physio staff, or just do a quick gym session. After that, training begins and lasts for a couple of hours. Once we finish, I can choose to eat lunch at the clubhouse or travel back home, Typically, I get home around 2 p.m., and the rest of the day is free for me.
If I'm tired, I take a nap for an hour or I try to find some activity to do with my girlfriend who is here with me. There are a ton of things to do nearby, and we still haven't actually crossed everything off our to do list! One we're back home, we make dinner at home, then watch Netflix for a while. It's a good way to just wind down and relax before dinner. If I'm still sore, I try to go to one of the local saunas to help my body recover.
I hadn't used them until I started playing professionally, but I find that they really help with recovery and building endurance, so it's been almost like a secret weapon for me! After that, it's usually pretty late s I prepare for bed, or if I can't fall asleep I like to call family and friends in the U.S. The time difference is about 13-16 hours depending on where they are, so it's nice to get a chance to talk to everyone, even if it's only for a few minutes.
Q: How is it different and alike to your time at Dartmouth?
A: Playing professionally is different because it's a full-time job. It can be stressful at times because there's a strong emphasis on performance and results. I have a lot more free time than I had at Dartmouth, but I'm constantly thinking about ways to improve my game. I spend most of my time prioritizing rest and recovery because we play a lot of high intensity games during the course of the season. Anything that can give me even a 1% advantage makes a difference in the long run. I'd say the biggest similarity would be the passion that comes from playing. I still get the same joy from scoring and playing well that I had in college. At Dartmouth, even an off-season training game was exciting for me, and I don't think that will ever change.
Q: How did Dartmouth and the men's soccer program prepare you for where you are now?
A: Dartmouth taught me how to quickly adapt to changes, and that's something that I've taken with me everywhere since. Each term had different training schedules and course loads, so it was important to find consistency in my daily life that would allow me to excel on and off the pitch. Each country I've played in has its own style of play, different languages and cultures, and different expectations from the players. I don't think I would've been able to perform well if I hadn't been forced to adjust to those changes during my time at Dartmouth.
Q: What is your biggest piece of advice?
A: My biggest piece of advice would be to keep trying to improve and always try to have fun. It's a gift to be able to play your sport at collegiate or professional level, and I think a large part of my journey comes down to keeping things simple and trying to make the most of those opportunities.
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