₦airaland Forum

Deltamani:
Eighteen years🙆‍♂️

naptu2:
The Super Falcons also staged a sit-in protest after the African Women's Championship in South Africa in 2004. They refused to leave their hotel until they were paid.

Consequently they missed their flight to Nigeria and became stranded. President Olusegun Obasanjo had to send the presidential jet to pick them up.

Agony of ex-Super Falcons coach, Godwin Izilien 12 years after Nations Cup triumph in South Africa

By Gowon Akpodonor |   30 December 2016   |   2:04 am

In 2004, Coach Godwin Izilein led the Super Falcons to win the African Nations Cup in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was the fourth AWC title for Nigeria.

Twelve years down the line, the coach, now 74 years old, and the rest of his coaching crew are still being owed salary arrears of over $28,750, out of which, $12,000 of the amount belongs to Izilien.

As in the case of the Coach Florence Omagbemi-led Super Falcons squad that won the recently concluded 2016 African Women’s Nations cup in Cameroun, the team to the 2004 AWC in Jo’burg was not given any chance by the then NFA board led by Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima before their departure for that championship.

With determination, however, Izilien and his players fought and won the battle, beating the Lionesses of Cameroun 5-0 in the final with Perpetua Nkwocha (now an assistant coach of the team) accounting for four goals plus a late strike from pocket dynamite, Vera Okolo.

Millions of football-loving Nigerians back home celebrated the victory late into the night, but unknown to them, Coach Izilien, members of his coaching crew and the players were being subjected to derision in far away Johannesburg.

Sensing another round foul play when the Galadima-led NFA defaulted in paying all entitlements after the competition, the girls protested by refusing to leave their hotel rooms the next morning for the airport, insisting on getting their camp allowances and winning bonuses.

“The team was abandoned by the Federal Government delegation, but as a coach and father to the players at that point in time, I had to stay back with them until the Nigeria Consulate intervened by paying the players’ entitlements,” Izilien recalled in a chat with The Guardian yesterday. “I took the pain to stay back with them because abandoning the girls at that point would be seen as unprofessional. But I was pleading with them to end the protest since we were in another country, but they refused.

“So many Nigerians who did not even know what transpired between me and the players in Johannesburg started to spread rumour back home that I instigated the players to embark on the protest. Some ‘bad belle’ people even went as far as saying that they saw us displaying Biafran flag while protesting on the streets of Johannesburg. I am an Edo man, and I have not seen a Biafran flag in my entire life. All the rumour were meant to spoil the mind of then President Olusegun Obasanjo and members of the Federal Executive Council,” he said.

Speaking further, Izilien, who also led the National U-17 team, Golden Eagles, to the African Championship in The Gambia in 1995 said: “Some of the Super Falcons players I took to South Africa in 2004 were relatively young. I discovered them during school competitions, and it is only fair that government should have appreciated my efforts. I am only using this medium to appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Vice President, Prof. Yomi Osibanjo, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, members of the Senate Committee on Sports, House of Representatives and indeed all well meaning Nigerians to come to my rescue. It hurts me on daily basis whenever I remember the sacrifices I made for the country, and how I have been neglected in return. The players got their money, so why should I continue to suffer? Many governments have come and gone, but I will be very grateful to the Buhari administration if he could pay us the equivalent of that money. It is a way of rewarding excellence and fulfilling Federal Government’s promises.

“I have written several letters to concerned authorities without a single reply; I am suffering after being neglected by the football authority. To think that I agreed to handle the female national team at a time of crisis without asking for extra remuneration, and to be treated in this manner is not encouraging for the growth of the game. I did it out of patriotism for fatherland.

“We were promised payments on arrival in Nigeria after the championship, but till date nobody has said anything about that money,” Coach Izilien added.

https://guardian.ng/sport/agony-of-ex-super-falcons-coach-godwin-izilien-12-years-after-nations-cup-triumph-in-south-africa/

lovewins:
Again, ill advised.

She's already saying things she shouldn't say.
How do you say (imply) Toni Payne isn't up to your creative level yet?

She still say many things she isn't supposed to say.

BascoVanVeli:
The same as Randy saying his coaches were not good enough. Rest

BascoVanVeli:
The same as Randy saying his coaches were not good enough. Rest

lovewins:
Again, ill advised.

She's already saying things she shouldn't say.
How do you say (imply) Toni Payne isn't up to your creative level yet?

She still say many things she isn't supposed to say.

lovewins:
Baba, you don't have to defend the indefensible. It's one thing to have issues with your coach, it's another to suggest your teammate isn't good enough. How can you not see that? And how does Randy's own mistake justify this?

BascoVanVeli:
U have gone from not up to creative standards to not being good enough. That's a push don't you think? Creativity is just one part of the game. U can be creative all u want but if u don't have a good first touch and can't get past anybody, it amounts to nothing. U know better than to imply she said Toni isn't good enough.

That aside, the coach flat out said his assistants were not good enough and nobody died during the world cup. If those coaches can get over his comment, certainly Toni will get over Ngozi's critic.

BascoVanVeli:
U have gone from not up to creative standards to not being good enough. That's a push don't you think? Creativity is just one part of the game. U can be creative all u want but if u don't have a good first touch and can't get past anybody, it amounts to nothing. U know better than to imply she said Toni isn't good enough.

That aside, the coach flat out said his assistants were not good enough and nobody died during the world cup. If those coaches can get over his comment, certainly Toni will get over Ngozi's critic.

lovewins:
I limited my comments to creative to not stir the pot. She definitely alluded to Toni not being good enough. She said "she's not up to that level yet" but she'll get there. I'm not even questioning her intentions, as I know she said it without malice. But statements like that shouldn't be made in the first place about your teammate.

There were other things that happened during the space that I felt shouldn't have. Again, it's not questioning her intentions as I believe Ngozi is a good person. But at the state she's in she'll definitely say things she can't take back.

Someone asked about Ify's comments to the Guardian about the appalling welfare treatment the falcons receives and cited the sharing of beds as example. She laughed and condescendingly said she also read it but that is not a problem for the falcons. I was shocked. Osasu had to correct her that it was. The fact that you guys are used to not being treated with respect doesn't mean status quo is the right thing. How do you react to a colleague's genuine welfare concerns as not being a problem? Anyone who read that Ify's guardian article will be appalled by the way the ladies her treated. Even Okobi herself mentioned how they still get just one training kit during camp. I mean one training kit and you think welfare isn't a problem?

To be fair, she said other things in the conversation that were enlightening. It was from that conversation I got to know the falcons used to have a B team. This was her response to addressing the home and foreign born controversy currently stirring it's head. I think she gave a great answer to that. She said Kanu, Ajibade and herself all came from the B team. They apparently have a group of girls they think her falcons potential and hold camps for them in Nigeria preparing them for when the opportunity comes. That was enlightening. It still doesn't take away from the points made

BascoVanVeli:
She didn't say anything bad u guys are reaching and u didn't limit anything. Toni has played in 3 other positions for the team so her not being a fit at the number 10 doesn't all of a sudden mean she isn't a good player. If I say Messi is not a good target man number 9, that doesn't mean he isn't a great player. That is just one role I feel he isn't that good at. The fact she said she will get there should let u know Okobi respects her as a footballer.


It seems u are just looking for a spicy story. Okobi said she has shared beds in Europe and that's why it is not a big deal. I hope u didn't erase that important part just to prove a point. Of course she won't see it as a big deal if the same is done in Europe. Let the lady breef

naptu2:
Go to Twitter, search for Ngozi Okobi and check the "latest" tab.

chrisooblog:
Ultimately Waldrum can choose the assistants you want to work with but Okobi can't select teammates she prefers to play with. Criticizing a fellow player when you have obvious flaws in your own game isn't on unless you're Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant who can walk the talk.

Honestly for someone who has been to several WCs I still don't get her angst. Even if she claims the coach doesn't like her face her performance in the team would make her invaluable which is not judging by her performance at the WAFCON.

lovewins:
Again, ill advised.

She's already saying things she shouldn't say.
How do you say (imply) Toni Payne isn't up to your creative level yet?

She still say many things she isn't supposed to say.

BascoVanVeli:
The same as Randy saying his coaches were not good enough. Rest

ThePresenceWtf:
Bro, I wanted to cry seeing the confusion amongst the players...they had no idea of what to do with the ball once they got it...

The Ordega and Ajibade move was head scratching ( I guess it was done because Ajibade is better beating her marker on the dribble, but we could have just overloaded that wing since Daly who was playing LB for England isn't a Specialist defender and stick 2 Attackers in their box since we decided to go route one )

lovewins:
I'm not trying to make it a spicy story, I'm not a journalist. I also expressly said I don't believe she said any of the things she said with malice. Nigerian journalist are already milking it and she's already getting backlash which is what I envisaged.
To provide context, what I'll do is quote her verbatim so people can reach conclusions themselves.

Osasu asked " Did we miss you in that game?" (Refering to the game against England.

Ngozi responded "I'm not saying that they missed me, I missed myself in such game cause that's the kind of game I play and I play very well..... I'm not trying to brag here but I feel like Super Falcons still need a player like me in the team. We still haven't gotten a creative player. I might not be the strongest player in earth but I have a talent that I don't think anyone can replace right now, so they lack that ".

She continued saying "Toni Payne did her best. I commended her effort a lot and I told her and said girl you did great. She tried her best but she's not up to that standard yet. She's a very good player and with time she will get there. But on that kind of game if they had me, even though I know I'm not going to last , I'm going to bring all I have......"

To the Ify issue, the question was primarily about welfare and the person cited the bed sharing as an example from the article. She also alluded to reading the article herself.

First, sharing of beds for professionals isn't appropriate no matter where it's done. How can you sleep in the same bad with someone you're not married to? That it happened in your club in Europe doesn't make it right. Of course players share rooms everywhere in the world but they don't share bed. They use rooms with double beds (which I earlier mentioned Osasu corrected her on). That isn't even the crux of the question, it bothered on welfare which should have been the emphasis.

BascoVanVeli:
U sound very much like a journalist. Out of all the gracious things she said u chose to go with one half line. She even said she talked to Toni which should have deaded any issue but like a true journalist u wanted spice

This is women's football oga. U people act like there is so much money in the game. Last season Barcelona was the only club in spain that made any profit. She is telling u what professional players are doing and u are saying it is unprofessional. Will u offer ur salary so that the clubs pay for double the hotel rooms? If u want to go through the list of our problems, this would not be on top of the list.

lovewins:
There's no point going back and forth with you. You're obviously determined to defend the indefensible. That you can't see how 2 players sleeping on one bed as a problem is beyond me. It has nothing to do with a club making profit, it's just bare minimum requirements. No one is saying players can't share rooms, but double beds are provided. I'm surprised she said it's common practice in her club cause that's a law suit waiting to happen. Anyone who shares bed space can't potentially allege to being violated sexually. It's even more ridiculous when you consider a large number of these players are LGBTQ people. Again, the subject itself was about welfare not about sharing beds. She said she read the article didn't she? Talking condescendingly on matters of welfare is the problem especially when raised my a colleague.

On Toni's issue, I already put verbatim what she said deviod of my own interpretation so people can form reach their own conclusions.so no point emphasizing that again.

On my being a journalist? You're free to believe what you want. It's funny you'll think I'll deny who I am or posture as something I'm not on an anonymous platform. To achieve what exactly?

Godspeed bro.

daveP:
So we have to be looking for other references to justify that unbecoming utterance because its Randy and Okobi? 😏😏😏😏

Are you kidding me right now? Like seriously??

daveP:
I'm a fan of her cause, but that statement just made me decide to not ever take Ngozi Okobi serious again. That's total BS to trample on your teammate like that. She's not a problematic fellow. She's not the origin of your mishap. She didn't connive with any soul to make any unfortunate circumstance that was detrimental to your selection. But you now decide to not only be myopic in rendition, but also blind and foolish and drop statement that reeks of outright jealousy That's not low! That is rubbish.


Toni Payne was exceptional for us that Vera Pauw felt she achieved something big by keeping her silent/isolated in the match against us.

Or is it that Toni looks easy to pick on? Cos i can beat my chest and say she can never say such about Oshoala, Ayinde, Ohale, Alozie.


Ngozi is just digging more with excavator instead of shovel.


Rubbish to pick on Toni. I was on the space too.

I think its high time they stop giving her mic. In a bit to prove a point, she's creating enemies among friends. That's not how to go.

BascoVanVeli:
There is no point in going back and forth yet u made a full reply U funny ooo U use the same pattern for every argument.

But look at how ridiculous u sound. So having double beds will stop a sexual predator from attacking at night? Tell me more. Okobi has recently played in Sweden and Spain and she is saying it is normal, which women's team have u played for to say it is not?

I said u sound like a journalist. I never said it was ur real job. Wat concerns me about how u feed ur family? I just meant the way u flipped the story was like a journalist. Even from wat u dropped it was just a small piece that was negative but u made it seemed like she destroyed Toni.

BascoVanVeli:
If u feel this quote is picking on someone u are very sensitive.

She continued saying "Toni Payne did her best. I commended her effort a lot and I told her and said girl you did great. She tried her best but she's not up to that standard yet. She's a very good player and with time she will get there. But on that kind of game if they had me, even though I know I'm not going to last , I'm going to bring all I have......"

Deltamani:
Fifa announced officially that Lauren James will receive a two game suspension meaning she would be available for the Fifa Women World Cup Final.

A very lenient ruling for a disgraceful foul whether it had been out of character moment of madness it was deliberate act, Nigeria'S player received 3 games for a mistimed tackle in comparison.

lovewins:
You don't have to be dishonest to make a point. Verbatim means I quoted her word for word. I only left out grammatical errors from her statements, but I didn't add or remove from what she said including her commendation of Toni.

Also, you seem to always fixate on the bed to distract from the fact that the issue was primarily about welfare and better treatment for players. I don't need to be a professional female player to know that practice of sleeping on the same bed isn't common practice, and I dare say her experience is the exception and not the rule. Also, going by your logic we should take it as common cause it aligns with Ngozi's experience but forget that the person who raised the issue is a professional female player with her own experience too?

Again, stop defending the indefensible.

BascoVanVeli:
If u feel this quote is picking on someone u are very sensitive.

She continued saying "Toni Payne did her best. I commended her effort a lot and I told her and said girl you did great. She tried her best but she's not up to that standard yet. She's a very good player and with time she will get there. But on that kind of game if they had me, even though I know I'm not going to last , I'm going to bring all I have......"

BascoVanVeli:
From the start U never said Okobi commended her. U only talked about Ngozi saying she isn't good enough. Deliberately not mentioning that she said she was a really good player who she already spoke with.

About the beds, u are the one that brought up LMNOP and court cases so what the heck are u talking about? If anyone is trying to distract us it is u.

So u do know more than a player in Europe? She said it is common practice but u that is not even a woman want me to believe it is not why would she lie about something like that? She was obviously giving u her experience along with what others have told her.

The person that raised the issue is a player from America that has only left to play for us. This was basically a culture shock and nothing more.

Kibbs:
The fact that only you see nothing wrong here should tell you a lot. Put down the sentiments for a second and look at it from an unbiased lens.

Why would you say a fellow player isn’t up to a certain standard? That’s for the coach to decide and not her. Even when a certain player criticizes, he/she does that to the whole team and doesn’t single out one person.