One of Nigeria’s best women footballers, United States-based Patience Avre, paid a surprise visit to her former club, The Invisible Leopard in Warri, Delta State, at the weekend.

Avre, known for her speed and scoring ability in her days with the Super Falcons, featured in three FIFA Women’s World Cups and one Olympic Games. She was one of the most reliable wingers in late coach Ismalia Mabo’s squad that shocked the entire world at USA ’99 FIFA World Cup.

Avre’s arrival at the camp of The Invisible Leopard FC sparked huge excitement among the players and their coaches.

“I’m grateful to have given back to the place where my football dreams took off,” Avre said in a post on the club’s website. “Returning to The Invisible Leopard soccer club in Warri, where my journey began, was an incredible experience. Seeing Coach Napoleon Aluma still leading with passion and dedication was truly inspiring. The energy and enthusiasm of the young players brought back fond memories of my humble beginnings,” she said.

Avre’s last match for the Super Falcons was an Athens 2004 Olympics qualifier against the Black Queens, which ended 1-1 at the Liberty stadium (now Obafemi Awolowo stadium in Ibadan). The Super Falcons went on to pick the ticket in Accra, beating Ghana 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Looking back to her playing days in Warri, Avre said: “My football journey has been an amazing ride: From The Invisible Leopard Club in Warri to Ufuoma Babes Warri, and eventually, to playing professional international football (three World Cups and one Olympic Games), proudly representing my country, Nigeria.

“Full circle moments like these remind me of the power of community, mentorship and perseverance,” she added. Coach Napoleon Aluma, who is currently the head coach of Warri Wolves FC, remains one of the most experienced football tacticians in the country. He described Avre’s visit as one of the most memorable moments in the club’s history.

“Her visit means a lot for the club. You need to see the excitement on the faces of the young players when they surrounded Avre in our canp,” Aluma stated.

https://guardian.ng/sport/football/u-s-based-exfalcons-star-avre-visits-former-club-in-warri/