Dwindling fortune of women’s football in Nigeria is alarming – Marcello

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.

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.

Coach Marcello also 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 the country.

“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.

The 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.