"In Gintroje" – I. Kuku

2025-03-02 20:16

"Gintros” team continues to strengthen its squad ahead of the upcoming season – the team has welcomed 20-year-old defender Idowu Kuku from Nigeria. The footballer is already known to Lithuanian women’s football fans – last season she represented Vilnius MFA "Žalgiris-MRU”. The newcomer will wear the champions' jersey marked with number 51.

"Joining ‘Gintros’ is a big challenge and a significant step in my career. I want to take everything I can while being in this organization,” said I. Kuku.

Idowu's football career began in her native Nigeria, where she represented the "Osun Babes” team, later moving to Kazakhstan, where she played for the "Tomiris” club. In 2023, she moved to the Kazakh champions Shymkent "BIIK” and participated in the UEFA Women’s Champions League with them. She was also called up to the Nigeria national U-17 and U-20 teams.

The defender recalls the confrontations with "Gintra” from last season and emphasizes that they were extremely difficult. "It will be interesting to meet former teammates on the other side of the barricades in the upcoming season. It's hard to defend the favorites' status, but I believe we can do it,” added the footballer.

"Gintros” director Mantas Radavičius was pleased with the team addition: "Idowu made a good impression last season when playing for our rivals. During the preparation cycle, she convinced us that she deserves to stay in the yellow-black ranks, so we believe that her experience and fighting spirit will strengthen our defense. Our goal remains the same – to continue the country’s champions' series and also to reclaim the Baltic League title and be competitive on the international stage.”

The first official match of the 2025 season for the Lithuanian champions will take place on March 8. In the Baltic League, the Gintrietės will aim for victory against the ambitious RFS team from Riga. An official team presentation event will take place next week.