Oyerinde charges NFF on women’s football

THE Chairman of the Oyo State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Taofeek Oyerinde (Fele) has charged football authorities in the country to focus more on women’s football.

He made the appeal while speaking at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, on Friday where he watched a female football match between New Team School and Old Team School.

The match which was organised by a former female football star in the state, Modupe Bankole (Lagbaja), was won 2-0 by New Team School.

Oyerinde said it has become necessary to give priority to women’s soccer too which is producing stars year in year out, by the country and has continued to raise Nigeria’s profile in the football world through the exploits of Nigeria’s teams at age-group global championships.

“I have been following women’s soccer for years now and I think the authorities need to focus more on women’s football. We must give equal attention we gave to men’s football teams to women’s football too in the country.

“These girls I am watching today would go places if they get the necessary support because they play beyond my expectation and I think all stakeholders in football particularly at the federal level need to see to the development of women’s soccer right from the grassroots,” Oyerinde, who is also the South West chairman of NURTW remarked.

The initiator of the programme, Bankole said the motive behind the novelty match was to bring the glory of women’s football back to Oyo State.

“There is no female soccer team again in Oyo State which I think is not good for the state. I am a product of Oyo State female soccer team and I believe it’s time to give back to female soccer in the state and that is why we have organised this match.

“There are young girls who are willing to play but nobody is willing to support them. I give kudos to Alhaji Oyerinde for his words of encouragement to these young girls and for his presence and I believe with adequate motivation, this state is blessed with a lot of talents who can be groomed to play at national and international levels in the near future,” Bankole said.