Coach Ogbonda Whyte of Bayelsa Queens has called for major improvements in facilities and increased sponsorship ahead of the second phase of the Nigeria Women’s Football League.
Speaking on the challenges facing female football, Whyte said, “The challenges that are hindering the growth of female football in Nigeria… I think sponsorship has to do with it, and good playing surfaces because most of the clubs don’t have a good playing ground, and when you go to those playing grounds it becomes a problem for you to play good football. I think those are some of the things that are affecting the growth of female football in Nigeria.”
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He added that the solution lies in securing league-wide sponsorship. “The way to address this issue I’ve raised now is for the NWFL to have a sponsor for the team. And after having that sponsor for the NWFL, I think the clubs on their own need to go all out to get sponsorship for their own side because most private teams don’t have the finance to be able to support themselves apart from the government teams that you can see. So, by the time we can get sponsorship for them and the private teams, I think it will go a long way in making the league stronger and helping the growth of female football in Nigeria.”
Following Whyte’s remarks, there is the urgent need for better playing facilities and financial backing to improve player welfare and overall competitiveness in the league. As he further pointed out, the challenges mentioned are peculiar to most private owned clubs in Nigeria. He stressed that these enhancements are vital for the long-term development of women’s football in Nigeria and for the growth of the sport across the country.
