Former Super Falcons star Mercy Akide-Udoh alongside two other individuals have been chosen for the USL Men’s and Women’s Hall of
Fame Class of 2013. The lone inductee into the USL Men’s Hall of Fame
in 2013 is Charleston Battery Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser (Coach), while
Charlotte Lady Eagles President Pat Stewart (Builder) and former Hampton
Roads Piranhas star Mercy Akide-Udoh (Player) will join the Women’s
Hall of Fame.These individuals are being recognized for helping to make USL a success through the years because of their tremendous efforts and personal sacrifices made on behalf of the sport of soccer in North America.
One of the most indelible names associated with the Hampton Roads (Virginia Beach) Piranhas, Akide spent seven seasons with the club, helping it to a championship in 2003. Akide appeared in 73 regular season games with the Piranhas, tallying 44 goals and 16 assists. She was named MVP of the 2003 W-League Championship when she scored the winning goal in overtime.
Also widely recognized as one of the most famous and accomplished women’s player to come out of Africa, Akide represented the Nigerian Women’s National Team nearly 100 times and holds the record for most international goals scored by an African woman. She represented Nigeria
at three FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments, two Olympic Games and three African Women’s Championship tournaments. She is also a three-time nominee for FIFA World Player of the Year and has been a two-time FIFA All Star. She earned NAIA All-American honors while playing with Milligan College, and became the first African woman to play professionally when she joined the WUSA’s San Diego Spirit. Akide has been a youth coach with Beach FC in Virginia since 2008.
The USL Hall of Fame Class of 2013 will be inducted at the USL Hall of Fame Banquet on Friday, December 13, 2013 at the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach. Honorees were chosen through a vote of current Hall of Fame members, USL teams and the USL Hall of Fame Committee.
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