I Always Played Football Matches On The Street With Boys, Right From Time And My Dad Supported It- Franca Asooto Confesses

Captain of the Lagos State Female football team at the National Sports Festival, Asuto Franca is regarded as the next ‘big thing’ to happen to Nigeria female football as well as the world at Large.

In a chat with Sports247 who caught up with her at the Agege stadium, the fabulous Captain opened up to how her football journey began as well as what to expect from her team come February 14, 2021, when the National Sports Festival commences.

*From your background, what got you into female football?

Right from time, I played with boys in the streets. In my school, we do play principal cup, so from there, my coach said I should start coming for training, she took me to my parents and told my parents to let me play football, so since then, I have been playing football since 2011.

*What did your Dad say concerning your choice of playing football?

My Dad wants me to finish my schooling, but they (my parents) supported me in everything I did, including my football career. They never for once complained that why am I going for football training or this or this. Even people in our streets told my parents never to stop me from playing football.

*So Far so good, would you say you are happy with the progress?

I am happy with the progress, because one day, I know I will be a great person like others, by God’s Grace.

*Seeing yourself as the Captain of Team Lagos at National Sports Festival that commences on Valentine’s Day next year (February 14, 2021), tell us about that captainship

I came for the training and screening in 2018, but in the end, I couldn’t make it, because then I was writing my exams. In the end, I couldn’t meet up with them. So during the next one when they (Lagos State Female Football Team) played the qualifiers, maybe I will try to meet up with the main game, I was still not there, but for this year’s own, I had to come for the screening, I had to join the training, even though it affected my education. My coach encouraged me, I did my best and as everything went fine, I was given the Captaincy, and since then, I have been trying to communicate with the team, so that we could Lift the trophy in Edo State and by the Grace of God, we will come next year.

*As Captain of the Lagos Team, do you have any team you are playing for now?

Yes, though I am not playing any league. The name of my club is ‘Young Talent Club 99 Football Academy’ and the name of my coach is Coach Omoh.

*Are you targeting any team in the Professional League?

For now, I am not, there is none in my mind for me to say I want to hope, I can’t say for next year.

*How did you and your teammates react to the new date of the National Sports Festival?

We have been hearing it since when they postponed it till January 3rd, so two weeks later, we saw the Letter that they have postponed the festival. I was trying to talk to them not to put that in mind, that it has not been postponed, but later on, it was made official that the festival had been postponed.

*Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

I see myself playing outside the country because it has always been my dream. Anywhere outside the country is okay, Everything is in God’s hands, anything can happen.

*Let’s take you back to the beginning, who bought you your first boot?

My Parents bought me my first boot. They gave me money to buy boots. They gave it to my Coach when she came to my house then, so I followed her (my Coach) to buy the boot. I was so happy that day because we bought not only the boots but the kits as well.

*How much did you first receive as money from football?

That was in 2012 when we played MTN Street Soccer and I received #10,000. The next one was in 2014, I played for team Lagos and then the Campus at NYSC, but that one is up to #20,000, but I was paid #19,500 because they removed some funds to pay others.

*What are the challenges you face being a female footballer?

Though many people do talk about the challenges, since I joined my team, it’s not that maybe am proving too big, I work harder, train harder. I have not really seen anyone that really challenged me.

Asooto Franca will hope to lead the Lagos State Female Football team to victory at the National Sports Festival which commences on February 14th, 2021 in Edo State.