By Enyinnaya Enyinnaya on December 14, 2015

Super Falcons top-player and reigning African Woman Player of the Year, Asisat Oshoala, has called on football-loving Nigerians to forgive the team for its disappointing performances in the recent past at major football contests. She urged fans to rather rally round the squad, as it is poised to bounce back forcefully to reclaim her enviable and prime position in the continent’s women football circle.

The sharp-shooter with Liverpool Ladies FC of England added that it was not the intention of the team to post such dismal results, but had to live with such momentary setback. “The unpredictability of the round leather game forced the bitter pills down the throat. The good news about the whole ugly scenario is that the players have long decided to come over it gamely and forge ahead in future football battles. That is the mindset of the players presently. We are all aware that in football any result from the divide can come to pass. It is why teams prepare for the worst in each match. It has been painful though. Head or tail, we have over-grown the bitter past,” said Oshoala.

She added: “We prepared well to better our previous records at the last World Cup, for instance, but it turned out the opposite. Even  the Rio 2016 Olympics qualifier, and  also the just concluded African Games; no matter how disappointing these have been when it mattered most, we have put them behind us. It is more gladdening to note that the Nigeria Football Federation vowed to reposition the team for greater productivity. We have been told in clearer terms that Super Falcons would undergo thorough overhaul to make way for a more vibrant side.  It will be most welcome development, so long as it will be in the overall interest of the fans and for the good of the sport.”

Oshoala revealed that she would be ready to answer the national call, if she is deemed fit for the national team service, restating her determination to subject herself to sound training programmes of her club and discipline, which is the traditional hallmark and first step to be in top form, for both club football and country.  She noted that the country has abundant talents that would bring the team back to her winning ways once the right atmosphere is created. She added that once the re-organisation of the Super Falcons would touch all aspects of the entire squad, from the technical crew to the players, there is strong reflection that a brand new Super Falcons would emerge at the end of the day.

The former Rivers Angel striker dismissed the notion that the present crop of players lack total commitment to the team, hence the dwindling result by the squad. She said that we should not apportion blames, rather we should look inwards and fish out the major factors that have befallen the once-dreaded and toast of the continent. We must go ahead to solve them holistically instead of holding a section of the team responsible for its misfortunes of late.

“It is my unflinching belief that we will get up again, once the right dose is applied. What is just needed is a push hard. There should be no sacred cow when the said rebuilding of the team starts. Our fans’ comfort must be primary as the NFF begins the journey to re-launch the team back into supremacy. What has been happening to Falcons of late in major international competitions are the metamorphosis great institutions undergo over the years. The good aspect of it is the steadfastness by the owners of the team (NFF) to take the bull by the horn in seeing that nothing would be left to chance in the spirited bid to get the African champions back into reckoning again,” she posited.

•Photo shows Asisat Oshoala.

Source Daily Sports

Posted December 14, 2015

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