Maintain Balance between Education, Sports, Female Footballer Tells Queen’s College Students

Uchechukwu Nnaike

The reigning CAF Woman Footballer of the Year, Asisat Oshoala, has urged Nigerian girls to focus on their education while exhibiting talents in sports, especially football.

Oshoala, also the captain of the senior national female football team, Super Falcons, said this at the 59th inter-house sports competition of Queen’s College, Yaba, Lagos.

She stressed that proper education can guarantee success of any individual and ensure production of exemplary future leaders, adding that education could go side-by-side with sports, but in such a situation, one should not suffer because of the other.

”I feel very happy to be here today. I am amazed with what I have witnessed, it is very heartwarming.

“I am excited seeing girls compete with much zeal in the various sports showcased at this occasion. It shows that these girls are discovering their passion for sports unlike what it used to be in the past where it was an ‘all boys’ thing.

“Talking about football specifically, I will really love to have lots of Asisat Oshoalas in Nigeria, but first thing first: education is very critical,” she said.

The footballer stressed the need to ensure that young people, especially girls, take their education seriously, saying, “this however does not stop them from showcasing their talents in the area of sports, especially football,” she said.

The four-time CAF African Woman Footballer of the Year, who plays for the Barcelona Female Football Club in Spain, said she almost missed out when she decided to opt out of education to concentrate on football.

“I chose sports at some point, but at the end of the day, I realised the place of education and retraced my steps by embracing it, while still being active in sports.

“This therefore is the right period to let these girls understand that education and sports can go hand-in-hand,” Oshoala said.

In her remarks, the Principal of the college, Dr. Tokunbo Yakubu-Oyinloye said the students are proving their worth in all spheres of human endeavour, adding that the college believes in wholesome education.

According to her, the college has produced notable women in the field of sports such as Somto Okpegbue, who represented the country in the African Youth Chess Championship in Zambia in 2015, and Oluyisola-Abiola Gold, who represented the country in the same competition in 2016 in South Africa.
”We do not only excel in sports, we also win laurels in academics, technology and other competitions.

”Just recently our team won Project Award, Core Values Award, both in the first position, as well as Champions Award in the 2021 First LEGO League National Competition.

“As the foremost all-girls secondary school in Nigeria, we will continue to uphold the core values needed to promote a holistic girl-child education to produce girls who will contribute their quotas to the development of the country.

”The federal government has invested a lot to promote education generally in the country, as well as provide the enabling environment to enhance excellence in every aspect of teaching and learning.

“I feel very excited and honoured to have in our midst, the reigning Confederation of African Football (CAF) Women Footballer of the Year, Asisat Oshoala, and I know her presence will inspire these girls,” she said.

The principal added that the 2021 inter-house sports competition of the college was done in compliance with the Federal Ministry of Education’s directive on the COVID-19 protocol and safety measures.

She said the federal government, while ensuring that schools have a conducive environment for teaching and learning, desires them to be Coronavirus-free.