By Akeem Busari
Former Super Falcons goalkeeper, Judith Chime, has charged football enthusiasts, particularly, football administrators, to show more respect to Nigeria female footballers and treat them better.
Speaking from her USA base, Chime, who last year organised and funded a memorial football tournament in honour of late Super Falcons star player, Ifeanyi Chiejiene, who was the youngest ever female player at the age of 16 years to play for the Super Falcons, lamented the somewhat poor treatment of female footballers in Nigeria.
“I am not happy with the treatments of female footballers in Nigeria. Female footballers deserve more respect because they equally break sweat and blood in the service of the country, like their counterparts,” she lamented.
Judith Chime who represented Nigeria at the 1999 Female Senior World Cup and the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, stated that with more support and encouragement, female footballers in Nigeria, can do better.
She expressed dismay that the standard of female football in Nigeria has dropped drastically.
“It’s a shame that there’s no longer the fear factor in the games of the Super Falcons. Back then, we used to ask our oppositions how many goals they would love to be beaten. And truly, we would score the numbers of goals against them,” she remarked.
Judith Chime, who is a trained and licensed football coach and scout, expressed desire to contribute to the development and growth of female football in Nigeria. Stating that female football in Nigeria needs technical expertise supports to regain its fearsome and enviable reputation in continental and global football.
The Clayton State University Hall Of Fame inductee and Chief Executive Officer of KC Sport Marketing Management Company, admonished well placed individuals and corporate organisations to give more support to female football in the country.
