By Saheed Afolabi
Female football has gained more prominence in Nigeria and a lot of parents are giving their kids the support and encouragement to succeed in the game.
Speaking with ECHONEWS, a promising female footballer, Mary Salami, who plays as an attacking midfielder plying her trade with Dream Star, said she took interest in football at the age of eight because of how she saw boys playing it.
She claimed that the boys ignited her interest in the game coupled with the support and encouragement given to her by her parents.
She said she joined the boys in playing the game when she was eight years old and later took it seriously as a profession.
Salami said when her father saw the talent in her, he decided to push her further by enlisting her to a training pitch to train with the boys, which has helped her career in football.
The attacking midfielder said it has been fun playing football in Nigeria but admitted that she plays the European pattern of the game due to her flair for the game.
“It has been fun playing in Nigeria where football is played physical. I am glad I can fit into the style of play in Nigeria. But I play the European pattern whereby I don’t delay the ball too much and I do more of touches with the ball but once in a while I go physical because I am a Nigerian player (Laughs).”
Mary Salami said she is looking up to a six-time FIFA woman player of the year, Marta da Silva.
She also described former Barcelona playmaker, Lionel Messi, as her idol, adding that her dream is to play for top clubs in Europe and the Super Falcons.
