A look at Eni’s life

She Kicks’ first cover interview is Tony Leighton’s four-page Q&A with 22-year-old England striker Eniola Aluko, closing a year in which she starred for St Louis Athletica in America’s new Women’s Professional Soccer league and reached the Euro 2009 final. Aluko rates her solo winner in the 2-1 quarter-final against Finland the best and most important goal she has scored, describes being shifted wide left against Germany in the final, and names the Germans, a well-oiled machine, the toughest opponents. She reflects on her 40-goal Chelsea partnership with Lianne Sanderson, Athletica’s winless start, her All-Star XI season and coach Jorge Barcellos telling her to lose her inhibitions, and sets a 15-goal target. She also discusses brother Sone’s Nigeria Under-20 World Cup campaign, her paralegal work in London, ambitions to qualify as a barrister, advice to youngsters not to put all their eggs in one basket, and better shopping in America.