AUDIO: Ashleigh Plumptre explains the lure to Saudi Arabia from England

Ashleigh Plumptre admitted that she is not bothered by criticisms about her move to the Saudi Arabia Women’s Premier League from England and denied accusations of any financial lure.

The Nigerian defender has joined Saudi club Al-Ittihad on a free transfer, having parted ways with Leicester City, teaming up with Kelly Lindsey, a former US international and Morocco coach, who left her role of Lewes FC’s head of performance this summer to become manager at Al-Ittihad.

Since arriving the Middle East this September, the 25-year-old, who becomes the third Nigerian in the Saudi top-flight after Rita Chikwelu and Tochukwu Oluehi, has hit the ground running, scoring a hat-trick on her debut and scooping the Player of the Month award for October.

1. You made a huge impact on your winning debut for Al-Ittihad, scoring a hat-trick – what influenced such a historic and memorable personal goalscoring feat from you?

Ashleigh Plumptre: Yeah, I can’t say that I was going into the game expecting to score three goals.

Obviously being a defender, I sometimes they come few and far between, but I went into the game just trying to take in the moment that it was my first game and I’m not necessarily been around my team for that long, but I wanted to go out there and try and support and help and encourage them as much as possible.

And at times I felt like I could get forward more so than I usually have been able to. And in that sense, I’ve just been able to take my chances.

Ashleigh Plumptre

2. What was on your mind in terms of target going into the match, and especially when you scored those goals against your compatriot Tochi Oluehi?

AP: Going into that match, I kind of went in. Everything was kind of, you know. I didn’t really know what I was expecting because it was my first game.

I didn’t know about the other team necessarily. I remember looking across the pit and seeing her in the warm up, and I looked over to her and we both waved.

And I was just so happy to see her even when we were shaking hands. Um, before the game, I felt like I had, like, I gave her a hug. I felt like I wanted to give her a hug because I was just Yeah, so happy to see her.

But, yeah, I did warn the team about Tochi. I said, you know, it’s not easy to to score against her. She’s a very good goalkeeper. So we were going to have to create some good opportunities in order to score, because, I know how talented she is.

3. Do you agree with those who feel there’s no footballing reason behind your decision to move to Saudi Arabia?

AP: Yeah, people who say there’s no footballing reason for me to go to Saudi.

Obviously, They don’t know why I’ve come in the first place. I believe that everybody is entitled to their own opinion, but I have spoken enough about it, and people really don’t want to understand.

They will understand where I’m coming from. This isn’t just about football, For me.

This is being able to be somewhere where I can be challenged in a in a different realm but also being in an environment where I’m around people who want to have such a positive impact on other people’s lives.

4. Was it that you didn’t get high-profile offers in Europe – talking us through offers you turned down to accept this Saudi move?

AP: Now, that’s, not the reason. I did had offers in Europe and also had an offer in America, but it’s not about that again.

My journey in football isn’t about just going to high profile teams for the sake of going to high profile teams. I have a very good understanding of myself and what I want out of football.

So the decision to go to Saudi was even with other offers. After the Women’s World Cup, I probably had a couple more opportunities to go somewhere else.

But I never went, preceding my decision to come here. Because as soon as I had the feeling from speaking to the coach, I knew this is where I wanted to be.

5.  What were the convincing words of the coaches and aspirations of the management in your transfer switch?

AP: It wasn’t convincing words, of the coach, She didn’t have to convince me at all. I think the one thing that she was, was probably the opposite of that of convincing.

She was just honest. And I believe in people who are honest, have integrity, have passion for something deeper, something meaningful.

I connected to her on that level. In fact, in that first conversation with her, I spoke to her for about an hour and, we barely even spoke about football. And and I guess that would come as a surprise to some people.

But, while football is what I’m here to do, it’s my job. And I’m very lucky to have the profession I have. I’m lucky enough as well to be able to to be able to do more than just play football. And I feel like being a professional footballer, a female professional footballer. I have a responsibility to do more than just that.

So, yeah, there wasn’t any convincing words. It was just her honesty and integrity that I was really drawn to. And her aspirations, the kind of impact that she wants to have, and I aligned with that completely.

6. What are your personal and overall targets for your first season in Saudi Arabia?

AP:My personal targets, initially are to try and get as many good results as possible. We want to obviously, we’re aiming to try and win, the league and the Cup. But it’s a lot more easier said than done.

I think the investment and the trajectory that football is on out here is going really fast really quickly in a good way.

So we don’t necessarily just have easy games all the time. So, yeah, to win as much as possible, but also for me, I want to be able to work on some of the things that I’m I almost like, have the time to be able to work on out here.

And like I’ve had really good conversations with the coaches and how I can even being in a different league like this, there are still ways I can push myself and make sure I want to be the best level I can be, especially if I can get continue being called up for the national team.

I have responsibility there. I want to keep improving both domestically and internationally, so I want to make sure I can continue doing that here and then my other personal targets while I’m here to try and be some kind of sound boards to my teammates. Try and they’ve got questions. Try and help them learn, Push them, help them pass their comfort zone. And, honestly, all I want to do is just try and be a good teammate and hopefully build some good relationships out here where people feel like they can get, be better, like become better football players and and learn more about the game.

7. Is Saudi Arabian league competitive enough to attract more foreigners?

AP: I think already you can see players being brought out here. I actually love more than anything to see African players out here, especially like my teammates.

Initially, I only knew that Rita (Chikwelu) was here. So just, having, like, playing up against African players. I honestly, I think it’s one of the hardest things I’ve come up against. Um, previously, like my game against Ivory Coast.

That was such a tough game. And I just hope that I really hope the more African players come and play in this Saudi league. But yeah, I definitely think It’s getting competitive and, you know, it’s only the second year since it’s been professional.

So to think that there’s such a big number of internationals coming over here, already being attracted. I just think the league will get better, But, also like the Saudi players who are here, these are the ones who really, really want to learn, and, you know, they haven’t even been playing professional football for for very long.

But you can see how much they’re coming on in such a short period of time. So, yeah, I expect it to keep improving.

8. In terms of culture and tradition, how are you coping with your new environment?

AP: I honestly am loving my new environment. I feel like constantly I’m learning, like all the girls are so open.

I’ve had individual chats with a lot of my teammates. I’ve had group chats with a lot of them. We’ve just spoken about so many such a range of things and whether it’s them playing Arabic songs and I’m learning Arabic songs and I’m showing them like one of my teammates, she’s actually from England, but she loves BURNA boy.

So we’re constantly talking about, you know, they’re playing Arabic music. We’re playing either Nigerian songs or songs from England. So yeah, we talk a lot about food and music and culture and tradition, for sure.

But even in terms of how the tradition for them and culture has changed, yeah, honestly, I’ve just felt like I’m learning every day, and I’m loving it. The ninth question made me laugh. I feel like to be a striker.

There has to be some consistency. Well, more consistent consistency than what I’ve shown. I mean, a very cliche answer, but I’m more than happy to play wherever I’m needed.

9. After scoring her first career hat trick, will she be willing to step up to a striking role if need be?

AP: I couldn’t I’ve never considered myself to be a striker in the past, but I really do enjoy getting forward even the second game, the game we’ve just played at the weekend we drew.

But, I found myself on left wing sometimes and in the middle sometimes. And I actually like that.

There’s a freedom in it and in that sense, actually, like forcing you to it forces me to do things that I haven’t done, or I don’t usually do. So that’s actually been really interesting and enjoyable for me.

#image_title

10. What does it mean to have two other Nigerian players, Tochukwu Oluehi and Rita Chikwelu with you in Saudi Arabia?

AP: Honestly, just hearing the question. It makes me happy. I love my Nigerian teammates so much. I wish they were actually closer because they’re a plane journey away.

If they were closer, I would definitely be seeing them outside of football. I mean, it was really nice to see Tochi. Well, both of them are like big sisters to me, so yeah. I want them to do well, obviously, when we play each other, obviously want us to win.

But I always, yeah, wish them the best and hope they’re having a good time out here, and it seems like they are.

11. You’ve taken a brief break from the national team, do you miss the girls and how soon should Nigerians expect to see you back?

AP: Yeah, I guess it has been a break. I haven’t been able to go to the upcoming, camp, like I said, it’s more of a personal decision while I take care of my body.

But ultimately, I want to be fun with the team. It’s a privilege. And I want to be in the best physical condition to be able to go and compete in important games.

And I feel like right now, I have complete trust and faith in the team. I’ll be watching the game while I’m here, but, I want to get to a point where I can compete maximally and provide as much as I can to the team in the best condition. So, yeah, I expect to be, I don’t know when, Hopefully as soon as possible.

But, yeah, I’ve had to make the decision for the benefit of myself, but also the team as well. And I’m looking forward to some of the girls that have been called, and especially the younger girls that have been called in. And it’s like the first or second time or they haven’t had much experience with the the senior team.

Hopefully give them a chance as well. And to be seen, at the top level, I think that’s really important. So, yeah, I’ll be supporting the girls from afar.

12. The Nigeria Football Federation is contemplating handing Randy Waldrum’s contract extension, do you think Waldrum deserves a stay by your assessment of his coaching regime?

AP: It’s not my decision whether coach stays or goes. But the one thing I would say about Randy is he’s always, especially for me personally. I mean, I’ve been brought into the team by Randy.

I think, at times I’ve actually had to have, a different programme compared to other players to be able to perform and he’s always been very understanding and wants the best for me as a person and a player.

If I’m honest, I don’t think I would have had the opportunity to represent the national team and play the games I’ve been able to play. If it wasn’t for for his understanding and working with me as a player. So that’s the one thing I can definitely say about that.