As reactions continue trailing Saturday’s finals in the male and female versions of the rebranded President Federation Cup, a female football promoter, Peter Otache has called for more sponsors of the women’s league.
Otache took a closer look at the organisation and standard of play witnessed on Saturday at Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos, and declared that he was impressed by what he saw in both matches.
He then singled out the women’s final, in which Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt beat Naija Ratels of FCT 1-0, and stressed that it was a worthy climax to the season.
The female football enthusiast and developer, however, interjected that a lot still has to be done to take the Nigerian Women Football League (NWFL) up to global standards.
Otache said, “I will summarise the season by saying it’s been a gruesome one. In as much as all the clubs are involved in both the league and the FA Cup, they had a busy programme, in which they all gave their best.
“It’s been a long run that ended on an exciting note today. At a point in time, there was a break, and we were not sure if the league would sail smoothly.
“So, we are happy that we have come this far. For me, it’s been a fantastic season, ending with the President Federation Cup in Lagos.”
He went on to provide an incisive assessment of the NWFL and the quality of Nigerian football in general, to which he opined that more effort is needed to improve all facets of the game.
“Overall, the league is improving. I will say, ‘Yes,’ female football is developing fast in Nigeria.
“Compared to what we used to have, maybe five, ten years back. Now they are more organised, but we need more sponsors.
“We need more people to come on board in all aspects of support for the league; so that there will be a more conducive platform for the women to show their best.
“All said, I am much more encouraged by what the grassroots teams are doing, in terms of feeding the major clubs with players all around Nigeria,” Otache posited.
Other stakeholders and spectators in the stands at the Onikan Waterfront also echoed the need for NWFL’s officials to reach out during this off-season and hook sponsors for various aspects of the league.
They were unanimous in a verdict that the presence of corporate and individual sponsors would motivate the clubs and their players to do even better.
