Arsenal Ladies and Super Falcons ace, Asisat Oshoala is upbeat as Hotsports Nigeria Limited and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) takes their ongoing engagements towards unveiling the 2014 African Women’s Footballer of the Year, the Face of the 2016 Female Federation’s Cup in Nigeria, to the next level.
Oshoala, who was home on a short break from her base in London in the course of last week after helping her club Arsenal Ladies win the English Women’s Football FA Cup joined the HotSports team led by CEO Taye Ige in a crucial meeting with the Lagos State Football Association Chairman and NFF 1st Vice President Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi at the State FA secretariat, Onikan Lagos.
“I feel truly happy and excited about this. I appreciate the initiative to make me the Face of the 2016 Female Federation Cup and wish to pledge my full cooperation with HotSports, the Nigeria Football Federation and with all concerned to ensure a more exciting and memorable Federation’s Cup this year,” an obviously elated excited Oshoala said.
On his part, Barrister Akinwunmi who is also the chairman of the organising committee of the 2016 Federation’s Cup final described the idea of making Oshoala the Face of the Female Federation Cup as a brilliant innovation and promised to pass the message to the President of the NFF Amaju Pinnick, who he said he was sure would welcome the idea.
“When a great thing is about to happen it starts in a small way because people hardly notice. I think the small thing we have done here today is the beginning of something very great,” he said.
“First of all, we have Oshoala, coming to give back, it happens only a few times . Secondly, we need an inspiration for young female footballers in Nigeria. She (Oshoala) has offered herself to fill in that role and it’s a very good thing for which the Federation is extremely happy”, Akinwunmi continued.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of HotSports and Chairman HS Media Group, Taye Ige commended the Lagos FA for a well organised hosting of the male and female Federation’s Cup for the past couple of years during which the oldest competition in the land gained enhanced equity in the marketplace and thanked Akinwunmi, the NFF and Asisat Oshoala for accepting to work together to boost the image of female football in Nigeria.
“it’s big a boost for female football in Nigeria ultimately. You remember that at every final event of the Federation Cup, the female final is played just as an adjunct of the male event or as a curtain raiser. We think that is not good enough and we that the national Federation should do something about it to enhance the brand called female football again,” Ige said.
Hotsports is the official Marketing consultant for the Asisat Oshoala brand.
