Former Super Falcons star, Maureen Mmadu, a member of the team’s Golden Generation of 1999, talks about her academy, her time with the Falcons, playing 100 games and funny memories with the women’s team, in this interview with ‘TANA AIYEJINA
How would you describe your recent tour of Morocco with your girls’ academy?
First of all, I have to say a very big thank you to God. Our Morocco trip was good for the players’ exposure, so they can have more experience, because most of them had not travelled abroad before. And I will say it’s okay, but when we arrived there, it wasn’t exactly what we expected. But we must give thanks to God that we were able to play in Morocco.
How do you mean it wasn’t what you expected?
What we were told wasn’t what we saw. We were there to play 15-year-old girls. It’s only our captain that is 17, but to our surprise, the match they organised for us was with a team in their Premier League. So, because it would have been unprofessional for us not to play, I decided to allow them play the match. And the second match was the same.
The first we lost 4-1, and the second, we played 2-2. The third we lost 7-0 to another Premier League team. Even the first game, they had a player that was in the national team when I was there as coach, so we had to play against bigger teams.
Was it easy raising funds for the trip?
It wasn’t. I went through a lot to get sponsors and we didn’t get exactly what we were supposed to get. A lot of commitments I made, some of them I don’t want to mention, but I thank God that at least we were able to go and play the friendly matches in Morocco.
How would you describe the Nigeria Women’s League, compared to what you saw in Morocco?
Almost all the facilities we saw in Morocco are of good standards, it’s like European standards. Some of the clubs we played against have corporate sponsors. What I saw there is not one-man thing and it reflects on the facilities. They are world-class.
What is the next step for the academy?
I’m trying to go around and see other players. We are planning to go for a youth competition in Sweden and also in Denmark because we have a pending registration that will be carried over to next year. So, we will go back to prepare for the Gothia Cup and the Denmark Cup. So, now they see that our mission is genuine, maybe they thought the players would not come back. But I’m not that kind of person, I have a name to protect. It took me a lot of years to build the name, so, I can’t support something that is against the law because after living in Europe for so many years, I should know the law and follow it. So, we are back, we have to start planning for the programmes we have at hand.
What do you think we should do to make domestic football better for women?
I am satisfied with what Aisha Falode has done in women football because it wasn’t like this when we started. Falode has changed the face of Nigeria’s women football by bringing a lot of sponsors in. One thing I just feel right now is that the new NFF board should support her. I believe she will do more than what she did before.
You are the first Nigerian player male or female to hit 100 caps for the country. According to FIFA records, you have 101 caps for Nigeria. After this we have seen Vincent Enyeama, Joseph Yobo and Ahmed Musa reach that milestone and were celebrated. How do you feel not being celebrated for this milestone like the men?
You know in Nigeria everybody focuses on the men. As you said, we are not happy about it, but I can tell you that I was inducted into the Women’s Hall of Fame and I think it’s part of the recognition. One thing that made them induct me is the fact that I am the first African woman to coach in Europe. It’s not a fight I’m going to fight alone.
If you come to Europe, they normally celebrate their own people. I don’t know maybe I don’t have a godfather who is going to do that for me, but I believe in God that one day he will touch the hearts of the people that are in authority, that since they celebrate men, they also have to do the same for women, because that is why we feel women are being marginalised in Nigeria. So, it’s left for them to see exactly what to do. But for me I’ll continue to do my best for the young kids, I’ll continue to give my best to the society, 101 caps is not child’s play. I thank God and the people that pushed me to that level.
Can you still remember your 100th and 101st games?
Yes, my 100th game was against Sweden at the World Cup in 2007. The game finished 1-1, our coach then was Ntiero Effiong, may his soul rest in peace.
