News Editor
By Edwin Philip
The Chairperson of Nasarawa Amazon Football Club Hajiya Hussaina Suleiman Nagogo, has identified the development of schools Sports as the fastest means to harness local talents for football and athletics among young girls in secondary schools in Nasarawa State. She said this is because bulk of the players in the State elite female team are sourced elsewhere, with injurious impact on team sustainability that can hamper podium finishing and medals from local talents.
Hajiya anagogo made the observation when she received in audience members of the Sport writers Association of Nigeria , SWAN Nasarawa State Chapter who were on a famililizstion visit to her office in Lafia, the state capital.
While appreciating the leadership of the she appreciated Association in State led by Mr. Smah George, she thanked them for always being the voice of sport and female football in particular in the state where Amazon football club is leading the rest.
Hajiya Hussaina also applauded the State government for invaluable support to the club in various ways and pleaded with the government and relevant bodies to come to their aid in the areas of salary upgrade in line with current realities where wage disparity between the male and female footballers is being bridged and harmonised.
” The state government has been doing a lot to ensure the growth of the female club but there is a big need in the area of welfare of the players in order to motivate them to higher performance in the forthcoming coming competitions,” she said.
She added that the need for decent accomodation and befitting camp ground for women footballers would go a long way in motivating and building their psychology to be indeed the Amazon that the State will be proud of , as the club at present has one of the best technical crew in the country, which has attracted most of the players to the club despite better welfare packages elsewhere, urging, the government, supporters, private sector and stakeholders to look out for the exploits of the team in the new season and take advantage of their popularity and performance.
Hajiya Hussaina Suleiman then sued for partnership with the sports writers association towards creating adequate awareness on the club by promoting its players, crew, and activities
Speaking earlier, the chairman of SWAN Nasarawa State, Comrade Smah George commended the entire management of Nasarawa Amazon under Nagogo’s watch for making tireless efforts towards achieving the desired mandate given to her by the people of the state.
Agreeing with the Hajiya Nagogo, Mr. George further listed some noticeable challenges bedeviling the progress of the club to include salaries barriers and good camping ground for the players which according to him with the level of commitment and efforts they are making; if all these are put in place, he believes the Amazon Women Football club will have no excuse not to make its supporters nationwide and the entire the state even prouder than it is at the moment
In this regard, the SWAN chairman advised the chairperson and her team to be inclusive in harnessing potentials embedded in Nasarawa State ladies from the grassroots by identifying and talent grooming potentials irrespective of their ethno- religious and cultural background.
” Cultural, political and religious barriers have continued to prevent the girls in the state from participating in sporting activities. These barriers should be avoided or eliminated to allow the female folks to express their God-given talents,” he said.
Speaking further, the chairman assured the state and the sporting Associations of Sports Writer’s commitment and support to the club towards in all ways required, and call on the government and relevant authorities recognise this with the aim of garnering all round support for sports and female football the being the best performing in this part of the country.
Comrade Smah intimated the Chairperson of Nasarawa Amazon of the forth coming SWAN week which comes up on the 26th August, 2024 and solicit for all round support to make the week a success. The chairperson responded to this with a donation of the sum of N100, 000 towards the SWAN week which has been christened SWAN week 2024.
