Victor Obinna sat down this week to discuss the FA Cup, having proved a Hammers hero with a memorable hat-trick earlier in this season's competition. The Nigeria striker would relish the chance to feature in Sunday's big quarter-final away to Stoke City. Here the 23-year-old gives his thoughts on the oldest cup competition in the world.
How popular is the FA Cup in Nigeria?
"Actually both the Premier League and FA Cup are widely known in my country, people watch it a lot, and back there it's a huge competition for the fans. So it's pretty well known.
What memories do you have of watching it back home?
"We used to watch Manchester United and Chelsea playing finals a couple of times. It was good memories waching the excitement and the standard of football was captivating.
How proud are you to be involved in the FA Cup?
"It's a great privilege for me to be able to participate in a competition like this. It is a dream come true. As a young kid I used to dream of playing in the English Premier League and also participating in the FA Cup.
"It's an amazing opportunity for every footballer to play in the FA Cup as every team that is participating in this competition wants to win. It's a very important competition, as it's part of the history of English football. I want to win if that's possible. But you just have to play game by game."
Are you aware of West Ham's history in the FA Cup?
"I have started to learn and to listen to the fans about players like Bobby Moore and the history of the club in the FA Cup. It's amazing and it's absolutely fantastic for the club and it's one of our objectives to reach the final. Definitely we are working hard towards that. We have belief. It's a wonderful competition, everybody wants to play. You can see with the Carling Cup that anyone can win it.
How did it feel to be nominated as player of the round for the hat-trick against Forest?
"It was a fantastic day for me. It's a good memory since it was my first hat-trick in English football. It was a really good feeling for me and it was something that I dedicated to my mum because she has always been there for me.
"The most important thing is to continue to give your best and definitely to make sure we win against Stoke. We need to able to move to the next round and hopefully get into final.
How tough is it going to be to beat Stoke?
"It's going to be pretty difficult. We all know how they play with their style of football. It's going to be pretty tough for us. We know what is at stake and the coaches are working hard to make sure we are very well prepared.
"It is unbelievable the outstanding way that we have been performing in every cup game during this season. It does give us more confidence to be able to push on the Premier League because if we can do in cup games, definitely we can do it also in the Premier League.
"You could see in the last game the way the team went out there and performed for one another. That's what we are looking for in every game and we will remember that in every game this season.
Would you like to emulate your compatriot Kanu after his achievements?
It would to be a great achievement if I could do what King Kanu has done. He is a legend for everyone of us. It would be a big privilege but I have to work hard for that and I need to make sure I work for my team. A player doesn't win a game, the team does. We just have to do what it takes to make sure we win the next game to play in the semi-final. Hopefully I can score.
What would it mean to play at Wembley?
"It would be a dream come true to play in one of the best stadiums in world. Absolutely. Every player wants to be at Wembley even just to walk in there and see how it is.
How important will it be for Avram Grant to reach the final again?
"It will be great for him, an amazing achievement for his career as a coach. He has been really working hard with the players, with the backroom staff."