We’ll
qualify for WorldCup
By MONICA IHEAKAM
Saturday May 6, 2006
Akudo%20Sabi.jpg)
Akudo Sabi
Photo: Sun News Publishing
Captain of the national Under-19 female team, the Falconets, Akudo
Sabi, has played down on the lacklustre 1–1 draw the team pulled
against their Liberian counterparts in a World Cup qualifier in
Monrovia last weekend.
The Falconets were widely tipped to tear the Liberians apart in the
first leg, but it was the Nigerian side, regarded as giants in the
continent that struggled to equalise after their less-fancied
opponents surprisingly went ahead of them.
But the Italian-based defensive midfielder, told Sunday Sunsport
shortly after the team arrived from Monrovia that there was no cause
for alarm, insisting that the Liberian team would not stop Nigeria
from qualifying for the World Cup by the time the second leg holds
at the Gateway International Stadium in Ijebu-Ode next weekend.
“As captain of the team, the onus of qualifying Nigeria for the
Russia World Cup lies on my ability to compose, contribute and
communicate with the players.
“Judging from our game in the first leg, you would agree with me
that we gave a very good account of ourselves, because we complied
with our coaches’ instructions.
“Although the Liberians are new in female football, we played the
game with seriousness, because we never wanted to take chances.
However, we hope to work harder in the second leg.”
The UPEA Orlandia ’97 FC player in Sicily, Italy, maintained she’s
not over-aged to play in the Falconets contrary to speculations that
she’s above the specified age for the competition.
“I am still eligible to play in the coming World Cup. If I’m not
qualified for the competition, the Nigeria Football Association (NFA)
wouldn’t have invited me from Italy to play for the country,” she
argued
The 2004 Challenge Cup winner also lamented the apparent neglect of
female football in Nigeria, which according to her should have been
more vibrant than what she met on her return to the country.
“It’s unfair that female football in Nigeria has not improved from
what it was before I left the country. I am saying this because in
Italy where I base, female football is well organised.
“Sponsors scramble to be part of the action in female football in
Italy, because the people love sports very well and they enjoy
coming out to watch the game.”
Sabi also disclosed that despite language barrier, she’s well paid
as her club in Italy give priority to their players welfare.
“The only obstacle I have in Italy is my inability to speak or
understand their language, as Italians do not understand English.
But the management always try as much as they can to help me by
providing a translator for me, even though I am the only foreigner
in the club. However, I do mix well with my colleagues in the team,”
she said.
Sabi went further to plead with the NFA to help in elevating the
statues of female football in the country, adding that Nigerian
girls are far better than many of their counterparts outside the
country. According to her, the only line of difference separating
the Nigerian girls and others is in packaging and management.
“We have talented players, who can become world-class players any
day. The only difference is in the way our football and players are
packaged and managed in the country.
“If the NFA and other relevant authorities can do more to ensure
that our football is well managed, our players will become world
beaters any day.”
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