Page 96 - Powerlist 2020

Sport

NEW Eniola Aluko versions of themselves. Aluko was appointed UN
2020 Women UK ambassador with a focus on promoting
Football writer and pundit gender empowerment in 2016, and in October 2018
she was named by Marie Claire as one of 10 Future
Eniola Aluko is one of only 11 female footballers to Shapers Award Winners, recognising individuals who
have played more than 100 times for England. She are changing women’s futures for the better. She is
has scored some of the Lionesses’ most memorable currently playing football for Juventus in Italy and
goals, was the first female pundit on Match Of The writing a weekly column for The Guardian.
Day, and is a qualified lawyer, having graduated from Don’t Teach This is a fascinating examination of her
Brunel University London with a first in 2008. But it multiple identities – British and Nigerian, a girl in a
is as a whistleblower that she is destined to be best boy’s world, footballer and academic, a kid from
remembered. And, like many whistleblowers, she has an estate with upper-middle-class parents, a
spent the subsequent years being rubbished by those God-fearing rebel.
she exposed. But the book is at its best when Aluko reveals
Aluko, who played for Birmingham City, Charlton exactly what happened after she accused the England
Athletic and Chelsea in England’s FA Women’s Premier women’s team management of racism, and the Football
League, and for St Louis Athletica, Atlanta Beat and Association of turning a blind eye to it.
Sky Blue FC in the US, is writing a memoir, They Don’t Aluko does not hold back – and few people from
Teach This. She is keen to share her experiences, the football establishment emerge with their
aiming to inspire readers to be the best possible reputation intact.

96 Powerlist 2020