Udoh Mfoniso Emmanuel, a recent graduate of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), where she pursued a diploma in football coaching, shared her inspiring two-year journey and aspirations with Sports247.
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Mfoniso, reflecting on her time at NIS, remarked, “To be very sincere, it started like a joke, but I am grateful to God today because I have had a wild moment, I have added knowledge to improve on myself, I have met people and built healthy relationships that I know would not end here but would go beyond the four walls of NIS.
So, it has been a wonderful moment here with colleagues, friends, lecturers that have been motivating. I am really happy that I began this journey at the time I did.”
Her journey into coaching was fueled by a desire to give opportunities to aspiring footballers, particularly young ladies. She explained, “Before now, I had played but did not have the opportunity to play actively to the professional level, and then after school, I went for service and served in Gombe State.
I felt that I did not have an opportunity to play enough; I would give others an opportunity to play. That was why I delved into coaching. I believe that coaching in football will help me inspire other young ladies who have the dream to play football.”
“In the north, there are ladies who have a passion for playing football but are having challenges because of the social and religious restraints. Being here would motivate me a whole lot. I started managing a team while I was serving and felt I should not leave the girls like that but come and acquire more knowledge to be able to impact them where necessary.”
Mfon’s journey included playing for Police Machine in Akwa Ibom and starting and managing Jewel Queens Football Academy in Gombe.
Her aspirations extend beyond just becoming a coach; she dreams of coaching prominent teams, contributing to grassroots development, and becoming a recognizable figure in female football. She emphasized, “I am not just coming into football to shy away. I want to be known. I have observed that female coaches are not really known in Nigeria. I want to be one of the female coaches who would contribute positively to the development of female football in the country. I believe with God by my side, definitely the sky would just be my starting point.”
When asked about her future educational plans, Udo Mfoniso expressed her desire to pursue higher coaching certifications outside of NIS. She said, “I have plans of furthering but not in NIS. Staying here for two years has not been easy. I thank God that I did the diploma course because I had time to learn so much within the period of two years. I would go for a CAF, UEFA or some other certificate.”
Regarding the state of female football in Nigeria, particularly in the northern regions, Mfon believes that positive change is on the horizon. She noted, “The thing is that a lot of things are changing now in female football.
Thank God for CAF’s new rules that all premier league teams should have both male and female teams. Already clubs are making efforts to acquire female teams.
I have already had an offer of interest from one of the clubs in Gombe. It, therefore, means that female teams would be coming up, and it is an opportunity for female players to showcase what they have.”
She encouraged aspiring female coaches, saying, “Don’t give up. Had it been I had given up, I would not have gotten to where I am today. It is not going to be easy; you will face a whole lot of challenges, but the watchword is to keep pressing on. Consistency, persistence, and open doors you least expected.”
Udoh Mfoniso Emmanuel’s journey serves as a testament to the power of determination and resilience in pursuing one’s passion in the world of sports and coaching. Her dedication to the growth of female football in Nigeria is both inspiring and promising for the future of the sport in the country.
