New signing at Benfica Ladies of Portugal, Janet ‘Semenya’ Akekoromowei has dedicated her successful deal with the Iberain club to Super Eagles’ striker, Victor James Osimhen, who supported her financially during a recent bout with injury, Sports247 reports.
The appreciative Nigerian youth international pointed out that she could have been playing for FC Barcelona Femini of Spain since the beginning of this year, but the agreement failed after she copped an ankle injury while in action with the under-20 national team, Falconets.
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She recalled that the deal with Barca collapsed after she got injured in February, despite spirited efforts by her agent, Tobi Peters, who also linked her up with Osimhen and the Galatasaray of Turkey star became her saving grace.
She disclosed further that her agent had already made a trip to Barcelona, towards finalising a three-year contract for her with The Catalans, but it fell through because of the knock she got during the first half of Nigeria’s opening game of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers in Abeokuta.
Fortunately, Peters kept faith with the 18-year-old striker, who was born in Ese-Odo, Ondo State, but raised in Lagos, where she attended Police Primary School and Command Secondary School, then got her career breakthrough while playing for Bayelsa Queens of Yenagoa.
After setting tongues wagging in the Nigerian Women Football League (NWFL), and even getting a senior cap with the Super Falcons, ‘Semenya’ has now sealed a three-year-deal at Benfica, who officially unveiled her this week, after announcing the departure of Nigerian midfielder, Christy Ucheibe.
As she gets ready to settle down with the Portuguese champions, ‘Semenya’ cast her mind back to the recent past and admitted that her move to Benfica might not have been possible had Osimhen not come to her rescue by funding her treatment, which helped her to quickly get back on her feet.
“I want to express my thanks to Uncle Victor. I have yet to meet him face-to-face, but my agent, Tobi Peters, shares a close relationship with him and has always praised him. He continually tells me that Victor is a remarkable person and motivates me to play with his level of commitment.
“He encourages me to watch his matches to learn from him. (That’s why) my transfer to Benfica is dedicated to him and to every aspiring female footballer pursuing their dreams. His help came at a time when I needed it the most, and I will forever be grateful,” Akekoromowei reiterated.
