Eniola Aluko......has not had much time to catch her breath since her first season with Saint Louis Athletica ended. Aluko had to depart St. Louis before the season was even finished since she was required to report to England’s training camp in preparation for the 2009 Women’s European Championships. In fact, her last game with Athletica was on August 9 in San Jose, California. 48 hours later she was back across the Atlantic.
The European Championships turned out to be a coming out party for Aluko on the international stage. She was able to continue her fine play from the WPS season as she carried her scoring touch straight into the tournament in Finland.
“Personally, I think I had a successful tournament and was pleased to score such a memorable winning goal against Finland,” said Aluko from London. “It was very important for me to have a good tournament to continue the momentum I gained in St. Louis. I feel that getting to the Euro final made up for the disappointment I felt after missing the playoff game against Sky Blue FC.”
Aluko’s England survived the group stage of the tournament, and eventually advanced to the championship where Germany beat them 6-2. Aluko’s fine goals, including a 50-yard run and score, capped off a terrific 2009 season for her. She would score three times while in Finland and add one assist.
Aluko has been busy with her other career, law, since returning from Finland. But she did get to enjoy a holiday in Egypt with her family where she was able to watch her brother, Sone Aluko, represent the family’s native Nigeria in the U-20 World Cup. Sone Aluko plays professionally for Aberdeen in the Scottish Premier League.
“Unfortunately, the Nigerian boys did not do very well and only reached the play off stages, but I am sure there is more to come from them in the future,” exclaimed Aluko. “Nigeria definitely has bundles of talent in the team.”
In Egypt Aluko and her family took a Nile cruise, and got to ride on camels around the pyramids.
“My family socialized with the players and managers from all the World Cup teams,” said Aluko. “It was a lot of fun!”
Aluko is currently working as a paralegal at the law firm of SC Andrew in London. Her work there will conclude in February when she returns to St. Louis to begin Athletica’s pre-season camp. Aluko has also begun work on her New York bar legal course, which she describes as “quite intense.” Her daily duties at SC Andrew keep her extremely busy for now.
“My main role is to assist the solicitors (attorneys) in their legal research. The research I do is used either to advise the client or to build a case that is going to court. Because SC Andrew is dedicated to litigation, I also get to do fun things like take documents to court, and sometimes I actually attend live court cases with the clients.”
An offseason in London for a soccer fanatic like Aluko should bring plenty of chances to see big matches, yet Aluko has been so busy she has not been able to attend one. Although, she will be in the stands at the November 9 Chelsea v. Manchester United match at Stamford Bridge, which should make up for not being able to see any games thus far. Aluko also recently went to a stage production of the American film The Shawshank Redemption. Leaving London would seem tough but Aluko is eager to get back to St. Louis.
“I am looking forward to the forthcoming WPS season. It has been exciting to see the movement of all the players. It is a sign that all the teams are going to be even stronger for the new season,” stated Aluko. “I have missed seeing my teammates in St. Louis everyday at practice, but it has been nice getting updates from them about how their offseason is going.”
