By Sunday Agunbiade
Former NFF presidential Aspirant and United Arab Emirates based coach Marcello Anyanwu said the female football in Nigeria is steadily sinking.
The Imo born tactician who had broken series of transfer of footballers abroad noted that the performance of Nigeria women team at the last Olympics was a sour taste and there should be a wake up call.
She said: “Women had shown over the years that they were a force to reckon with in football on the continent, even in the face of poor funding and welfare.”
Speaking to our correspondence after receiving Royal Award as Odogwu N’mmeri football na Ala Oyibo in his community by the traditional ruler of Ebikoro Kingdom in Ikeduru Imo state Exe Marcel Egemonu,the former MFM coach said there was the need therefore to ensure that women’s football was given adequate attention, especially at the grassroots, adding that the women’s league required a major overhaul.
“It’s unfortunate that women’s football which has brought joy to the faces of Nigerians over the years has suffered neglect.”
“Also, the management of the female league has been poorly run and managed over the years….,” he said.
The Head scout of Gulf United Football Club, based in Dubai said that the private sector was supposed to be the major driver and sponsor of football in the country.
The Nigeria national League Brand Ambassador blamed the reliance on government as a major source of funding for football as the bane of the dwindling fortunes of the game in the country.
“I will therefore recommend that the managers of the league seek private sponsors as this definitely will boost the league in a major way.
“I will also recommend the managers of the league to seek experts in football management as the female league needs a major haul,” he said.
He frowned at the huge disparity between the wages earned by the women in the National team as well as at the club level compared to those of their male counterparts in country.
The Ambassador of Nigeria football supporters club said there was a need to narrow the gap and ensure that it was almost at par, adding that the introduction of quality life and medical insurance for all female players at their various clubs was non-negotiable.
“I think the issue of huge allowances for the men compared to the migre wages and allowances for the women should be discouraged as the women are no less inferior.
there should be the introduction of the health insurance policy for female players in the league, just as it obtains for their male counterparts, especially players who are either playing or have played for the national team.
“More female local coaches should also be encouraged, mobilised and motivated to undergo refresher courses which will keep them up-to-date and make them better on the job,” he said.
Marcello who is also an advocate for grassroots football and a Youth sports federation of Nigeria Ambassador noted that he has been contributing his little quota and building a structure for football and formidable sports development in the country.
“My goal is however not just to see to the growth and development of men’s football in the country, but also to promote female football, especially at the grassroots as I have observed a decline in female sports,” he said.
Former Arsenal soccer school coach revealed that the difference in the allowances of female players in the league was really low compared to that of their male counterparts.
“Even at the national team level, the women are not being well taken care of in comparison to their male counterparts, this is in spite of their dominance on the African continent for several years.
“But that has not in anyway deter the young girls from giving their best. They have kept on playing and have been doing very well both in the local league and in the continent,” he said.
