BY SUNDAY AKINTOYE
Akinade Rukayat was born 22 years ago in Lagos and she plays rugby football but before she ventured into rugby, she was a footballer until one of her neigbours convinced her some years ago to dump round leather game.Akinade position is Scrum half in rugby.
“I started playing rugby at a very young age,the rugby was introduced to me by my neighbour.When she told me about the rugby sport, I was scared at first because I always watch it on TV and I have seen the way the players hit one another so I told her I couldn’t play the game because I played football then but she told me to give it a trial that I will like it.
“So I finally followed her to where she practiced one Sunday and when i got there I really love the game, since then I quit football and play rugby only, “she said.
The dark skinned player quickly enrolled her self to the Adas RFc where she learned the basics of rugby.
” I was the youngest and smallest player in the team but the encouragement I got from both the coaches and the players made me to be fearless.In 2016, I joined Gosar Rfc and I’ve participated in many games like Independents seven’s, Golden seven’s,Gosar seven’s and Racing ten’s. I was awarded as the female MVP when we played Gosar seven’s in 2018, “
Her passion for the game earned Akinade to be invited for national competitions.She has won several laurels in many national competitions also took part at the last African Games.
“I represented Delta State in the Edo 2020/2021 national festival which I earned three medals Gold,silver and bronze medals.In 2023, I represented my club Gosar Rfc in the national female championship that was hosted in Delta State and we came out as second in the tournament.
“I started representing the national team in international competition in 2023 and I played for the female falcons against Ghana female team at CMS grammar school in Lagos state.I also followed them to play a rematch game in Ghana and we won them again in 2024.
“I was also selected to play for the ladies Stallion at the last African Games, though it didn’t go as expected but i will keep pushing,” she concluded.
