Tottenham Hotspur forward Chioma Ubogagu expects the English game to go from strength-to-strength as a result of the new broadcast deal with the BBC and Sky Sports.
The 28-year-old Londoner joined Spurs earlier this summer after leaving Spanish giants Real Madrid. Ubogagu featured for The Whites in their first year in existence following their transformation from former club CD Tacón and she helped the club qualify for Europe at the first attempt.
Ubogagu spent two years in Madrid in which she saw the Spanish game continue to develop at a rapid pace. The forward witnessed a real demand for women’s football content in the Spanish media and she believes that the exposure of the English game will follow a similar path given the three-year broadcast deal which was recently agreed between the Barclays FA Women’s Super League and TV giants the BBC and Sky Sports.
When speaking to FAWSL Full-Time about her time in Spain, Ubogagu said “I had a great time in Spain. They are trying to grow the league and they are making great strides.
“I think something I learnt was the passion for the game. Obviously, there’s a passion here in England for football but I think that fan support (in Spain) and that desire to interact, they always wanted more content, that really opened up my mind more.
“These broadcast deals and the TV exposure, so many more people are getting involved and that’s why I am so proud to come back to the WSL and play here because that is exactly what England is doing. I really think that it is going to keep on growing because there is that want for it that I saw in Spain.”
Ubogagu went on to say that she believes that the Barclays FA Women’s Super League is a fantastic product but the competition has lacked the visibility on the biggest broadcasting stage until now.
She added “I think that women’s football is such an exciting brand of football and I think that it has just lacked that exposure in the past. To get that opportunity will be amazing, we will get the fanbase that we already had and a new added audience will join us so we are really excited.”
Spurs and Ubogagu feature in the second round of live televised matches when their trip to Manchester City is broadcast live on Sky Sports Football on Sunday 12 September. Rehanne Skinner’s side will first open their campaign in-front of an enhanced live audience against Birmingham City at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Ubogagu is thrilled to have another chance to play in N17 after featuring for Spurs against Arsenal at the same venue in a pre-season friendly just a couple of weeks ago.
“For me, that was my debut for the team (against Arsenal) so it was a dream;” Ubogagu said. “The pitch and the stadium, to have the fans back, it was just unbelievable.
“It just shows how supportive the club are in growing women’s football, showing us and backing us. We are all really looking forward to starting the season there.”
Tottenham Hotspur are set to begin their third season in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League following their promotion to the top flight in 2018/2019. Ubogagu is one of 10 new faces at the club this season.
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