Thursday, January 11, 2006
Hampton Roads Piranhas forward and FIFA Ambassador for Women’s Football Mercy Akide-Udoh spent the winter break performing her duties as an ambassador for FIFA.
In November, Akide-Udoh was in the southern African country of Namibia where she took part in a FIFA-organized Women Football Development Seminar. While there, she played an exhibition game and signed autographs for players and officials of the Namibian Women’s National Team.
In December, Akide-Udoh was off to Zurich on another FIFA assignment. This time, it was to attend the prestigious FIFA World Player of the Year Gala, where she was chosen to present the award for the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year.
“It is an honor for me to be chosen by FIFA to contribute towards the development of the game,” said Akide-Udoh. “I also felt honored to be chosen by FIFA to present the award in Zurich. The experience of standing before the world was awesome.”
Back home in Nigeria, the Nigerian World Cup star has visited schools and orphanages where she has scrimmaged with less privileged children and encouraged them to pursue careers in soccer.
“Girls in Africa want to play soccer, but it is tough for them as there is no encouragement or equipment. Like I told the girls in Namibia, I was determined to follow my dream and I worked hard to do so. If they do the same thing, they can achieve what I achieved and even more. I was proud to give them Piranhas shirts, and I was also humbled by the number of girls who wanted autographs. It was a pleasure to sign it for them.”
“This year, I am starting a project called Mercy’s Mission. The program will target girls in schools to encourage them to take up soccer, live lifestyles that will discourage the spread of HIV/AIDS and seek to earn scholarships in colleges and universities. My vision is that these girls will change their lives through soccer, just as I did.”
A six-year veteran of the Piranhas, Akide-Udoh was named the W-League championship MVP in 2003. She is expected to return to the Piranhas in late March for her seventh W-League season.
