Gender crusaders and feminists may wish to regale us afresh that, "the best man for a job is a WOMAN! Haven't our Super Falconets proven it today - at the Under20 Women's FIFA World Cup, losing narrowly to hosts and now two times champions Germany? What the Super Eagles failed to achieve in South Africa our girls did for the nation! They could have lifted the trophy. Well, they came proudly second. We are proud of them. Bravo!
We salute and celebrate the Nigerian Spirit in the girls. It reminds us of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics Soccer Gold Medalists, led by Nwankwo Kanu. They, like the girls, were shabbily treated and given no chance at all of getting anywhere. Today, we have a feeling of déjà vu. There is creeping evidence that Nigeria will use these two canes to whip sanity into our football and general sports administration in this era of mandated restructuring. To do otherwise will be criminal lethargy, even suicidal.
Back to the girls: They flew the Nigerian, Ecowas and African Flag into the final. And yes they did us proud. Having stopped USA - the defending champions - many were rooting for them. Those "not-so-sure" touted the high-scoring record of the hosts to predict a routing of the Falconets. It ended 2-0; it could have been 1-0! Pray, the Germans were the better side. And they fully deserved their win.
Now, to the lessons: It is not news that most of our glory has had great lacings from our female athletes. Who can forget that glorious high jump gold - our first Olympic Gold - by Chioma Ajunwa? Or the great exploits of long-reigning queen of African tracks, Mary Onyali? Right now in Kenya the women are making us proud again! It is time to acknowledge this, and move strategically to give them full support at all levels.
Make no mistake, all of sports need transformation; what we advocate is a non-discriminatory and robust approach.
