naptu2: The Super Falcons were at their camp ahead of the 2015 World Cup when the BBC arrived and surprised Asisat Oshoala with her 2015 BBC World Women's Footballer of the Year award.
The Nigerian striker reveals several secrets about her life ahead of the Champions League final stages
08:21AM SUNDAY 16 AUG (GMT)
WOMEN
Hello culers!
I want to tell you about some parts of my life that you may not know about, now that we can finally play again after such a long break...
Phew, lockdown was difficult for me, because I was living alone for almost four months. I was shut indoors at home all the time and was obviously scared at first because I didn’t want to catch the virus. For two months I only left the house to go to the supermarket, and as soon as I got home I threw all my clothes in the wash! I also carried on training with all the uncertainty of not knowing what was going to happening to La Liga and the Champions League.
As I was so frightened, I spent a lot of time on the phone to my family, my mum, my dad, my family and friends. It meant a lot to stay in touch with them by video calls. And the situation in Nigeria wasn’t good either, especially in my city, Lagos, the capital.
My parents are shopkeepers. My family is polygamous. I know that sounds very strange in Europe but it’s normal in my country. In a Muslim society a man can have more than one wife. I think it’s quite natural because that’s the way it has always been for me. My father has two wives, and one of them is my mother. I have seven brothers and sisters, two from my mum and four from my father’s other wife.
I am very active on social networks so I am always in contact with my family. As I am alone so much time here, I also use Twitter and Instagram to engage with other people and have fun. I love it.
"I observe Ramadan as well. It was much easier this year because it was at the same time as lockdown"! - Asisat Oshoala
I believe in God. I pray, but I don’t always have my head covered. Just a few times or when I am at home. I obviously can’t wear a veil in my work. I observe Ramadan as well. It was much easier this year because it was at the same time as lockdown!
I went to a mixed school for boys and girls, and that’s where I started playing football during playtime and after class. I played for fun in the streets of Lagos, mainly on Sundays. And then I joined a girls’ team in the city. I was happy because I could play football every day. I must admit it caused a lot of arguments with my mother, but I got my way. When I joined the Rivers Angels it opened the doors to the national team and for the first time I realised I could go on to become a professional.
Five years ago I set up my own foundation, which basically encourages girls to go ahead with their dream of turning professional. We only work with women because men have enough opportunities anyway. I speak to them and play with them and try to make them more confident and help them to find a club. We’ve helped about 5,000 girls. It’s my little bit to help girls in Lagos.
"Five yeaes ago I set up my own foundation, which basically encourages girls to go ahead with their dream of turning professional"
- Asisat Oshoala
I think that it is hard for girls in Africa to play football and other sports in general. A lot of them have the same problems that I had when I was little in that their parents don’t want them to play and there aren’t many options for women footballers. I tell them never to give up, to keep fighting and believing in themselves. To love their football and to play it whenever they can. If you believe hard enough, one day your dreams will come true.
That’s what happened to me. In 2012 I went to the U20 World Cup, as a defensive midfielder, and when I went again in 2014 I became a forward. I was top scorer and MVP at that tournament and that convinced me that I was good enough to make a career out of football and play in other countries. The first was England. Well, I did have a trial with París Saint-Germain before the second U20 World Cup, but my first European club was Liverpool when I was just 20 years old. I got other offers, but as my only language is English, I took that option.
It was a good decision. I like Liverpool a lot. And that coach really believed in me and I was playing very well until I got injured. It was a nice experience and then I joined Arsenal the year after. I was very young and the changes were a lot for me to deal with, but I tried to adapt and be happy.
Then came the Chinese adventure. OMG! Dalian was a nice place, and my coach Farid Benstiti was like a father for me. He knew me from when I had a trail at PSG, and we spoke a lot and he boosted my confidence. The language, the food, the place, the people, it was all so different to Europe, but I was glad to have a European coach because none of the other players could speak English and I needed a private translator to speak to them. But despite all of that, it was a good experience.
The time came when I decided to return to Europe. That was in 2019 and the chance to come to Barça came up. I said yes. I didn’t think twice. I wanted to come here. From China, Barça was one of the best teams I had ever seen and I wanted to be part of that team. It was a magical moment to be able to come here.
My first six months were more than difficult. It was a new environment and not many people speak English, and I joined midway through the season so I had to adapt much quicker than normal. But I got too see a lot of interesting things in that half year, including qualifying for the Champions League final. Wow! I’d never played a game like that! I am proud to have scored Barça’s first ever goal in a European final but was also sad about the result. We had chances, and these are all about experiences, but we couldn’t do it.
"Now we have another Champions League challenge ahead, against the best teams in Europe, and they are one-legged games in the Basque Country. We have to do the best we can"
- Asisat Oshoala
Now we have another Champions League challenge ahead, against the best teams in Europe, and they are one-legged games in the Basque Country. We have to do the best we can. After playing this competition last year, I know how competitive it is. I think the team can go far again. It will be hard after not playing for six months, but the game with Atlético will be one to watch.
Personally I’m feeling great. I’ve been improving and feel I fit better into the way the team plays. I’ve been scoring goals in the preseason and things are going well.
Everyone knows me for my long hair and last year I decided on a change of look. I cut my hair short. If I see a colour I like, I dye my hair. It’s orange at the moment, but next week it could be red, pink or yellow. Not for any special reason, simply because I like a change.
Before ending I want to congratulate the whole Barça family for winning the league after such a long time without winning it. I hope you will all be supporting us from your homes and that we will see you all again at the stadium very soon, and that we will all be able to celebrate the league title together.
The Nigeria international was in action to help the Calatans defeat their Spanish rivals at San Mames Stadium on Friday
Asisat Oshoala provided an assist as Barcelona advanced into the semi-final of the Uefa Women's Champions League following a 1-0 win against Atletico Madrid in Bilbao on Friday.
After an 8-1 aggregate victory over Minsk last October, the Nigeria international played a key role to help the Catalans seal their progress to the last four of the tournament.
Oshoala, who had scored 26 goals in 26 appearances this season, was handed her fourth Champions League outing this term and made her sixth meeting with Atletico since arriving in Spain.
Lluis Cortes' team enjoyed the bulk of possession but could not find a breakthrough past the rock-solid defence of Atletico as both teams went into the half-time break tied.
After the restart, Barcelona continued with their dominance but failed to break the resistance of Dani Gonzalez's side until Oshoala's miscued acrobatic effort fell into defensive midfielder Kheira Hamraoui's path, and she duly grabbed the winner 10 minutes from time.
Oshoala, who was in action for 82 minutes before being replaced by Aitana Bonmati, has now contributed an assist and a goal in five outings for Barcelona in the competition this season.
The 26-year-old striker has now been involved in Barcelona's last five victories against Atletico in all competitions, scoring four goals.
She will hope to help Barcelona continue in the same vein in the semi-final of the tournament on August 25 when they take on Wolfsburg, who humiliated Glasgow City 9-1.
RealEzee: what I said wasn't a statement but a question in response to his claim that there are over 20 guys doing so since the case at hand is about innoson and Nord,these two are in the same sphere, Bennie you mentioned isn't in the same sphere as we can both agreed Beenie is more in agro vehicles as opposed to Innoson and Nord, that been said Beenie can't be used as an example to confirm his claim in totality, your pics of Beenie shows more of agro spec vehicles, one sport car, one that looks like the Polaris slingshot, more like prototypes than actual cars on the road tho, your answer that he makes commercial agro spec vehicles is correct but not the answer to my question as I posed it to reflect the specs made by innoson and Nord.
RealEzee: oh but where did I say Bennie made one vehicle na my guy? My claim is that Bennie isn't into commercial cars like Innoson and Nord but Agro geared equipments and since the unveiling of the sportCar what else has he done in comparison to Innoson and Nord tho? na wetin I talk b Dat oo, you said he does on demand vehicles yet can't be categorized in the same field with innoson and Nord who do more of the sedans,suvs and the likes, Bennie is tractors and other Agro vehicles, that's the difference .
Na Mannabbqgrill way suppose explain his claim of 20 companies in the north doing the same as innoson and Nord, cos I'm not aware of them too tho , way da guy sef? Na da 20 makers catch my attention . Been cool discussing with you too Boss.
Your first response was, "is there ar car making guys like Innoson and Nord in the north".
Bennie Technologies made cars and so obviously, I replied that Bennie Technologies makes cars. You replied that he doesn't produce vehicles commercially and I replied that he does. He produces cars on demand commercially and he mass produces tractors.
QED
The truth is that you keep adding conditions because you don't want to admit
RealEzee: "We guess this kid doesn't know we have more than 20 type of what Innoson motors is doing right now in the north, which has been there and producing for many many years now. Illiteracy is not just a disease, it's something worse!" that was Mannabbqgrill statement to the other person, and I asked for the list of the 20 and how long they've been in business before you sent me Bennie tech in response to my question
I am not Manna. You asked if there are vehicle making guys in the north and I gave you Bennie Technologies as an example. My contention was clearly that there are vehicle makers in the north and Bennie Autos is an example. You said he only made one vehicle and that he is not mass producing like Nord and Innoson and I've shown you that he is mass producing and he has made far more than one vehicle and he is selling them commercially.
naptu2: Proforce is a private nigerian defence company that manufactures armoured cars, armoured boats, armoured buses and trucks, ballistic helmets and bullet-proof vests. Proforce's website:
Johnson and Victor Obasa are brothers from Ekiti State in Nigeria. They graduated from the New York Institute of Technology, returned to Nigeria and set up Obasa Speciality Vehicles (OSV). OSV makes armoured cars, fire fighting vehicles, etc.
The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) is a government owned defence company that was established by an act of parliament in 1964. DICON makes armoured personnel carriers, AK47 assault rifles, FN-FAL rifles, ballistic helmets, bullet-proof vests, etc.
RealEzee: Bennie Technologies Ltd (@bennieagro), a machine design, fabrication & manufacturing company which specialises in producing agricultural equipment has produced a “made in Nigeria sports car”-the question was 'like Innoson and Nord' in the north plus list the 20 said to be there and years they've been in business before innoson and Nord cos that's what the initial comment was geared towards by Manna.. (crap I've forgotten his name). Bennie does not make what Innoson and Nord are doing, his specialty is agro equipment, true or false? Since the unveiling of the Sport Car, has there been mass production done at the level of Innoson or Nord?
Come and respond na me and u dey here no dey run, I go find u and comot ya teeth, abi you were supporting Manna(that name dey always skip my mem)
My good God! What kind of childishness is this? Remove my teeth because of what? A nairaland post?
My contention was that there are people that are producing vehicles in the north and you say there are none. You are then quoted my 2016 post, don't you think I would know what I'm saying before I make that post?
That sports car is not even the first car that was produced by Bennie Technologies. It became famous because it was presented to the Plateau State Governor.
I wrote that they make agricultural machines. What's the connection between agricultural machines and vehicles? Tractors! Bennie Technologies mass produces tractors and they also make other vehicles on demand.
SegFault: Unfortunately, it won't stop them from thinking like that, they should really have used another name. Hollywood is a different case entirely.
What does Hollywood have to do with Nord? How do they relate?
I have read all the comments and dint see any 'rubbish not made but assembled in nigeria' but if its innoson they will all be saying that because of jealousy.
Unfortunately there have been many of such comments on this thread.
Nord has a showroom in Lekki. You can get their address through their website (there's a link on the first page).
Bennie Technologies makes amazing designs, but I don't think they mass produce their cars (they mass produce agricultural machines). However, you can contact them on Twitter if you want to make a customised car. https://mobile.twitter.com/bennieagro
Proforce and Obasa Specialty Vehicles mainly make vehicles for the military and security services.
I have written about this before and I think today is a good day to write about it agin.
In 1989 the Malaysian ambassador to Nigeria went to Dodan Barracks to present a car to President Babangida. I watched the event on the NTA Network News. They said that the car was called Proton and that it was the first car brand that was made in Malaysia.
The newspapers went crazy the next day. Columnists wrote that the Malaysians came to Nigeria in the 1960s to take samples of our palm oil and that they had become the biggest palm oil selling nation in the world by 1989. They said that Nigeria was ahead of Malaysia in all indices in the 1960s, but now Malaysia had produced a car while Nigeria could not produce anything.
Imagine how I felt when I discovered that the Proton was just a rebadged Mistubishi Lancer. The Peugeot 504 that was made in Nigeria in 1989 had more local components in it than that Proton Saga!
Sports › Re: Oshoala Shines As Barcelona Edge Atletico Madrid To Champions League Semi-Final by naptu2(op): 5:25am On Aug 22, 2020
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