Peace Abbey, the two-time NWFL winner and Bayelsa Queens player, has talked about her life and career.
In this interview with ABIODUN ADEWALE, she talks about celebrating Valentine’s Day and balancing her personal life and football career.
What does Valentine’s Day and its message of love mean to you and how do you plan to mark it this year?
Honestly, as a professional footballer, Valentine’s Day is just like every other day, and I don’t have any plans apart from training. I’ve always been not into it because I am usually busy with my professional career at that time of the year. So, this year won’t be different, and for the message of love that comes with it, I think we should always show love as well.
So, have you received any Valentine’s Day gift before and what made it special?
Yes, it was once monetised for me by my friend and that was because I was busy with training and couldn’t join him for a treat. So, he just sent me the money and it was a gesture I will always remember. Aside from that, I can’t recollect any memory of receiving any special gift for Valentine’s Day.
How much was it?
It was one hundred and thirty thousand naira only. (N130,000).
What’s the best gift you have given out? How did you come about the idea and whom did you give it to?
That I can’t disclose and I gave it to my best friend.
Have you ever been told you don’t look like a footballer and how often are you judged by your looks?
Honestly, a lot of times. I mean, people have told me several times that I don’t look like a footballer. Funny enough, I know this too.
How does that make you feel?
I’m used to it. Then, I used to think they said that because they believed you couldn’t be a footballer and still keep that feminine look. Now, I don’t bother to convince them, they can follow me on social media to watch training pictures and match highlights. If that is not enough, they should come to the stadium to watch us live, after all, that is what we want for our league.
You’ve been called the ‘most beautiful player’ in the NWFL. How do you feel about this tag, and do you think we have players in the league who are more beautiful than you are?
I think everyone is beautiful in their way and being called the ‘most beautiful’ sounds a bit good. Besides who doesn’t like being called pretty? But trust me, every female footballer is beautiful. I am glad that these days, most of us are now better seen through social media unlike in the past when it is just probably if you go around the stadium or when you watch on television. As professionals, we tend to look the part with our physique when we are doing our job but football doesn’t change the way you look outside the pitch. Some of us dress like men too but I think the choice of what you wear is about comfort.
Are you currently in a relationship and how do you deal with advances from men?
Sorry, that information about my relationship is private. And for advances, it is funny because I get a lot of messages, especially on social media but I don’t reply to them. When they are tired they will stop. Sometimes the conversations end there. Physically, I don’t go out a lot and as a footballer, I am usually within the space of those I think should not bother me with such advances but even male footballers are asking me out. When they keep getting no for an answer, they will stop.
So, about that, there’s a common stereotype that female athletes are likely to be lesbians because they rarely move with other groups of people and even the opposite sex. Have you experienced any form of discrimination or judgment based on this assumption?
Yes, that’s true because people hold many opinions. Let me put it this way, people judge a lot by mere looks. In the general sense of that assumption too, I think it depends on who you ask but for me, I haven’t really experienced any form of discrimination or judgment.
Let us talk about your career. Did you have any early influences that shaped your passion for football?
Not really, but football has been something I have loved since I was a kid and that started by watching boys and men play. I just liked playing football. I think I can call them my influence. Aside from football, I used to skate, run and do high jump. Athletics was something I enjoyed too and I even represented my school in that. At one point, I thought that was what I would do professionally until I started playing football.
So how did you move from an amateur to a professional?
It was some of the guys who used to see me on the street who advised my mom to allow me to pursue it. That was the point I also left athletics for football.
Did your family support your decision to pursue a football career?
No, they did not, and it’s part of the initial challenges you have to face. I mean, they never wanted me to be out of sight, not to mention far from home. It was tough for them to accept that I could take football as a career. I remember my mum used to arrest any coach I was training with back then. I think they are coming to reality by the day and I believe it will get better with success.
You have won the NWFL title in back-to-back seasons with two different clubs. How does it feel to have achieved such?
There’s this joy that comes with winning the league title but it feels special to have done it back-to-back, especially with two different teams. Two years ago, I was with Delta Queens and we won the title, I won it with Edo Queens last year which also marked the first time in the history of the club. It’s a privilege to have been able to do that.
You are with Bayelsa Queens now, you guys are still unbeaten and top of your group. Would you say your lucky charm will help them win the title this season?
Lucky charm? Maybe but we put in the work and I’m sure that is the first thing that will put us in a good position to win the title. We will just keep pushing until the end of the regular season and when we get to the Super 6, we get the job done. Hopefully, I will have my third NWFL winners’ medal at the end of the season.
How do you see your career evolving in the next few years?
Well, I thank God for where I am today and in the next few years I will be bigger and better. I want to play in bigger competitions with my team and represent the country, that’s the goal.
Have you ever faced any significant injuries or setbacks in your career?
Yes, I have. Funny enough I just recovered from an ankle injury. Trust me, it wasn’t easy for me but I had to keep my mind focused.
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