Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and his wife Laney Matriano keep God at the center of their somewhat unconventional marriage.
“I would say that my wife and I have a little bit of a unorthodox marriage at least thus far,” Egbuka said on the “Sports Spectrum” podcast. “We’re both professional athletes. So obviously I play in the NFL and she plays professional soccer, which has actually taken her over to Sweden, so she lives over there. So, I think, you know, the longest time that we’ve been able to have together is like three weeks and then we’re separated again. But the Lord has been faithful through all of it.”
The athlete said he and Matriano have to be extra conscious of their communication with one another.
“And I think it’s unique because I think us being separated, we have to do a really good job with our communication and, not just communicating, but planning our communication. She’s six hours ahead,” the wide receiver explained. “So, you know, just that intentionality of when we’re going to talk, how we’re going to be intentional when we talk and not be distracted, and really honestly kind of affirm each other without that physical aspect of it.”
“Obviously, you know, it’s easy for her to feel loved when we’re in person and I can hug her and I can kiss her and I can tell her I love her, but when we’re far away, you definitely have to be able to emphasize that with your words,” he continued. “And I think that us being far apart in this beginning stage of marriage is just going to strengthen us for down the road because we’re going to be able to be very skilled with our words and being able to be creative in that way as well.”
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The pair announced their engagement back in January.
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“Everything we prayed for and more 🤍,” they wrote in a joint Instagram post alongside Mark 10:9: “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
They married on July 3.
“All Praise and Honor and Glory to Jesus Christ for This Day!!” they shared on Instagram alongside wedding photos.
Though they are apart right now, Egbuka can’t wait until they can spend each day together.
“So, I’m just looking forward to the day where we can be together, live together,” he said. “Obviously, having children is something we’re both looking forward to as well. But I’m super proud of her. She’s doing her thing in Sweden, killing it over there.”
Despite the distance, Egbuka’s faith and commitment to intentional communication have turned a challenging long-distance marriage into a source of strength for what’s ahead.
Egbuka and the Buccaneers face off against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Sept. 13 at 1:00 p.m.
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