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Ex-Super Falcons’ Goalkeeper, Ayegba, Now A Bus Driver In UK
Former Super Falcons’ Goalkeeper, Rachael Aladi Ayegba, Now A Bus Driver in the United Kingdom.
She now works for Go-Ahead, shuttling between Lewisham and Victoria with number 1851 bus.
The bus and train giant currently operates about a fifth of the capital’s buses on behalf of TfL.
Rachael Aladi Ayegba, a former goalkeeper with the Nigeria national women’s football team, nicknamed the Super Falcons, is now a bus driver in the United Kingdom.
Ayegba represented Nigeria in the 2007 Women’s World Cup as well as during the 2006 and 2008 African Women’s Championships. She had an 11-year stint as a pro in Finland, winning the league title in 2013 with PK-35 Vantaa.
She now works for Go-Ahead, shuttling between Lewisham and Victoria with her number 1851 bus. The bus and train giant currently operates about a fifth of the capital’s buses on behalf of TfL.
Go-Ahead fleet
The 35-year-old, who moved to England in 2018, said she had always admired the double decker buses. She believes driving a bus requires more concentration than when you are playing in goal, even though both professions have a lot in common.
“When you are trying to save the ball, you need safe hands. But there are ten others on your side,” she was quoted on Evening Standard.
“When you drive a bus, you are on your own.”
“Mentally you have to be 100% ready, if you are a goalkeeper the defenders can help you. You can’t make any mistakes driving a bus.”
When asked about bus drivers not getting enough respect, Ayegba said :
“They don’t. I think we just see a bus driver as a nobody. I see them more like a pilot, if anything goes wrong, it’s on them. Now I’ve done the training, the people I respect most, after my family, are the drivers.”
