Olamide Adugbe has proven to be one of the best players of her age, and is already compared with some of the best Nigerian women footballers.
The young forward broke into the scene earlier this season, scoring important goals for NWFL Premiership side, Naija Ratels. The Edo-born striker scored one of the best goal in the league on Matchday two against Edo Queens at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium. A special goal that earned her side a precious point in Benin, wowing everyone at the Stadium.
The former Nigeria Women National U-17, Flamingos Star, has scored four goals in just five matches in the top Women Football League in Nigeria (NWFL Premiership). She primarily plays as a striker and sometimes plays from the wing and has proven to be highly effective from both wings. She likes to dribble past defenders, has got a tremendous pace and takes great long shot. She gets involved in link-up play as well with fellow teammates Aminat Bello, Blessing Sunday and Motunrayo Ezekiel.
The 18 year Old special talent also gets into good positions in attack, in order to receive threatening passes from her teammates, lays off defenders and cuts inside with short passes linking up with other attacking players.
Meanwhile, Adugbe has attributed her phenomena skill to Bayern Munich and Polish striker, Robert Lewandowski, who she described as her role model in the world of football.
Lewandowski is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in the world, and is even considered by many to be one of the greatest centre-forwards of all time. An accurate and efficient finisher with his head and both feet, Lewandowski is a prolific goalscorer and Olamide feels she just want to be like him.
The young forward also noted that her parents gave her the full supports, from childhood, especially her dad, who was always gifting her soccer balls to play with right inside their living room.
“I started playing football right from when I was a kid.” She said.
“My Dad played a huge role in my career, from when I started kicking the ball. He always gifts me the soccer ball and played it with me. It was kind of weird for some people, because in Africa, the girl-child isn’t expected to play football.
“Then when I started growing up, I started watching Robert Lewandowski. Learnt alot from him, his aura for goals and the way he positions himself on the pitch of play. One day I hope to be as popular as he is.”
Adugbe also hailed her present team Naija Ratels and the Club’s President, Barrister Paul Edeh, who have been so supportive since she arrived at the Abuja based club.
“He (Edeh) has been a father figure to me and all the players in the team. He regards us as his daughters and that says alot. It is one of the reasons we always put all our efforts whenever we wear the yellow and green shirt of the Ratels.”
Adugbe is no doubt, one of the most sought out players in the NWFL Premiership and surely do have a bright future ahead of her.
