Indira Albuquerque: “Always Be Willing To Learn And Never Forget To Take That Shot”

Hollywoodbets Sponsorship Coordinator, Indira Albuquerque, pictured at the 2022 Momentum gsport Awards where Hollywoodbets were crowned Nielsen Sports South Africa Sponsor of the Year winners at The Wanderers Club on Wednesday, 14 September. Photo: gsport

Self-Actualization: One of the most broadly accepted definitions comes from Abraham Maslow, a humanistic psychologist. He described self-actualization as the process of becoming “everything you are capable of becoming.” That’s the first phrase that came to mind when I hear the name Hollywoodbets Football Sponsorship Coordinator, Indira Sofia Albuquerque.

When Albuquerque is not on a football pitch for JVW FC, she wears the hat of Hollywoodbets Sponsorship Coordinator. An indication that she is a true go-getter.

A lengthy injury that could’ve been set back for the forward has not deterred her from raising the profile of women’s sport in her role at Hollywoodbets but she’s not done yet as she still hopes to get her soccer boots on and return to the field.

At the 2022 Momentum gsport Awards, Hollywoodbets were honoured with the Nielsen Sports South Africa Sponsor of the Year accolade for their outstanding corporate support of women’s sport in the country.

Speaking with Lonwabo Nkohla, Albuquerque chats about the increased level of support of women’s sport and shares tips on growing your brand to attract sponsors.

 

Indira, thank you so much for chatting to us! Please tell us about your switch from football player to Football Sponsorship Coordinator. How did this transition come about? 

I’m not entirely sure if I’ve fully completed the switch. When I started as a football sponsorship coordinator for Hollywoodbets, I had suffered an injury from football that resulted in a long recover process. With the relocation for the position, came with time constraints to get back onto the field. Hopefully in the new year I can balance my time well to give it my last shot.. lol, I know.. I’m still a footballer at heart.

 

From the time you started playing and now, do you think there’s been an increased level of support for women’s sport? 

Yes, there definitely has been. We are seeing more girls wanting to play, more supporters, more involvement, more athletes getting professional contracts oversees, more volunteers, more news, more social media conversations and more. Just taking a step back to see the growth over a long period of time is encouraging to keep finding ways to be part of the change.

 

What lessons do you take from your playing days as you continue to flourish and grow in the sponsorship space? 

The lessons I take is to do what you love, work hard in silence, always be willing to learn and never forget to take that shot!

 

At the 2022 Momentum gsport Awards, Hollywoodbets were named Nielsen Sports South Africa Sponsor the Year winners. How does it feel to be part of the Hollywoodbets family, a company that has set the pace for corporate and the sponsorship of women’s sport? 

It’s super exciting! Hollywoodbets has an extremely strong culture in being well rooted with the community that it translates into the work we do. I’m forever learning and growing as I’m integrating into the role.

 

What tips would you give to teams or individuals who are hoping to grow their brands and attract sponsors?

I would say be intentional in building and growing. Have a plan, create a support group/system that will eventually attract more and more people to support. Also, don’t be afraid to seek guidance and assistant from teams / individuals who are successfully building their brands.

 

The Hollywoodbets Super League is steadily growing and changing the lives of many South African women who have great talent in football – how else could we safeguard this league and continue to improve it? 

By strategically placing/starting support groups for each of the regions can bring a call to action to the communities to support. The more support it gets, the more attractive it becomes to sponsors.

We also have the duty to ensure we are empowering the team personnel as well as league officials to ensure that it’s continuously kept as being run as well as possible.

 

Football player -> Football Sponsorship coordinator -> are there more ambitions or boxes you’d like to tick in sport?

Hehehe, I’ve thought about this a few times because I have fulfilled a numerous amount of roles during my life of being involved in football, but I guess it wouldn’t hurt to tick the box of something along the lines of a ‘football development strategist ‘ … but who knows 🙂

 

 

Photo 1 Caption: Hollywoodbets Sponsorship Coordinator, Indira Albuquerque, pictured at the 2022 Momentum gsport Awards where Hollywoodbets were crowned Nielsen Sports South Africa Sponsor of the Year winners at The Wanderers Club on Wednesday, 14 September. Photo: gsport

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