The saying that defeat is an orphan but victory has so many friends has not found expression in the recent victory of the Super Falcons at the recently concluded 7th edition of the Africa Women Championship in South Africa as the team is yet to receive the much expected cash reward from government.
Following their scintillating performance in South Africa, Nigerians unanimously agreed that the Super Falcons deserve more than the infamous presidential handshake which former President Olusegun Obasanjo introduced during his time in office.
Although it said the government has constituted a committee to come up with plans on how best to reward the team, the result is slow in coming and there is uneasy calm in the team just as preparations for Germany 2011 are yet to commence in earnest.
The players and officials of Falcons have cause to grumble and they are kicking in whispers. However, in separate interviews with Trustsports, former handlers of the team, Coach Ismaila Mabo, Joseph Ladipo and Paul Hamilton were unanimous in their position that apart from cash reward, early preparations for the 2011 World Cup in Germany should be a thing of priority.
Mabo said it is sad to know that up to this moment, the Falcons have not been hosted properly and rewarded with cash. According to him, handsome cash reward for the team would ginger them up for the forth coming Women World Cup.
He said if the team is hosted now and adequately rewarded, the players will be ready to lay down their lives because they know that they would receive commensurate reward when they return home. He expressed confidence that government will heed to the advice.
But he maintained that what should concern the NFF and the team at the moment is early preparations. The coach said the World Cup is a different ball game so the Falcons must be ready in time.
“I am slightly disappointed that Falcons are yet to be rewarded with cash. I had said earlier that they are adults with family responsibilities and the best way to reward them is to give them money so that they can attend to their needs. Most of them are bread winners in their families.
“Moreover, if handsomely rewarded in cash, the players would be motivated to lay down their lives in Germany. Cash reward as they prepare for the championship can propel Falcons to surpass my quarter final record”, he stated
On his part, Jossy Lad said by receiving and hosting the team to presidential dinner, government has demonstrated appreciation for the team’s victory in South Africa. He said the President made a commitment to reward the team soon and Nigerians should give him a chance.
The coach however agreed that if rewarded now, the players will be better motivated to put in their best at the World Cup. Lad said government is faced with a lot of challenges but if something can be done to further motivate the players and their officials it will go a long way in motivating them.
“I cannot say government is not interested in rewarding the team. On arrival from South Africa, the President hosted the team to a befitting dinner and promised cash reward for the players and their officials.
He also called for early preparations and international friendly matches as he said it is only such matches that can expose the weaknesses in the team.
“The key to success is early preparations. The present NFF appears interested in motivating the team so I hope they will take the issue of preparation seriously”.
Toeing the same line, Hamilton said if the team is given early and sufficient preparation for the World Championship, the players will perform better.
He said at least three crack international friendly matches should be organized for the team to test its strength as he said that would boost the confidence of the players on the global stage.
Hamilton advised that nobody should make the mistake of thinking that there is enough time to prepare the team for the 2011 World Cup.
“I want the team rewarded as soon as possible but that should not be a thing of priority now. The team should concern itself with early and enough preparations for the 2011 World Cup. They should play series of crack international friendly matches. If that is done, some of the lapse in the team would be noticed and corrected in good time.
“Reward or no reward, Falcons must start preparations now. July 2011 should not be seen to be far. The time to commence preparation is now. I will be afraid if the team coach is not ready with her programme for the World Cup. There is no time to waste”, he noted.
As timely as the wakeup call from the former Falcons coaches is, members of the Falcons who spoke to Trustsports on condition of anonymity said first things first -government should reward them for the their feat in South Africa as they said that would motivate them to perform better in Germany.
