Exclusive News
Oluchi tobex Tobe-Chukwu.
As the new season of the Nigeria women Premier league kick starts in mid July, the chair person of the NWFL Ms Aisha Falode is resolute in maintaining raised standard and being used as a reference point in years to come by.
” The results might seem as if its crawling but most importantly is the movement to the right direction.
The shift to professionalism, transparency and raising the bar is the ultimate for me and my board members”
She made this points shortly after the draws for the women teams campaigning in the elite division.
” If you understand the inner workings of a board that runs a league, you will know that it is more than setting a date for the commencement of the league and not toying with the welfare of the players”.
She further explained that the dividend of the board’ hard work is beginning to pay.
Club owners are ready and understand that football should be treated as a business and sentiment shoved aside. They have been corporative in sailing the ship.
” Registration of clubs for a new season are essentials we must not overlook, caution fees are an indicator that discipline must be emphasised as we help in adding value to the girl child. Most importantly the welfare of the players should not be toyed with” she stated.
“I am glad that apart from the champion league for women in Africa which we are still awaiting CAF , our relationship with LaLiga is beginning to pay as the league winner this season qualifies for an invitational tournament in Spain” She concluded.
In a separate chat Kuddy Khilani the coach of the police Machine team who also played for Simbiat Abiola babes , Madu Angels, Police machine team in her days also gave kudos to the present board for the vast improvement especially in players welfare.
” The difference is like day and night financially for the players, the running of the league is quite different and it is for the better.
The only positive that no longer exist is the interesting preseason tournaments we enjoyed back then as YSFON isn’t the same again , playing the Olu of warri cup, Ramat cup, late Benson Idahosa cup etc was like a world cup. This generation of players are lucky” she said.
The NWPL kicks off on the 17th of July in an abridged format of four groups for speedy round up and an extension of a hand of fellowship for all the clubs to be able to honour all her matches.
The league has remarkably improved for the past two seasons since Aisha Falode became the chairperson of the board.
Notable progress recorded but not limited to are referees indemnity being shouldered by the board thereby eliminating walk over, the LaLiga deal, welfare of players has improved drastically, improved media coverage, Glamorous Super 4 at the end of each season, introduction of a champion shield, the ratio of home based players in the national teams has increased and most heartwarming is the movement of players from the NWPL to clubs abroad.
