Lack of transparency, poor organisation bane of Nigerian women football -Kraemer

By Ifeanyi Eduzor

After a careful/critical examination of why Nigerian women football is still in comatose position, President of Association of Nigeria Women Football Club Coaches, Hans Kraemer has heaped the blame on lack of transparency and poor organisation which he believes must be tackled head on for the game to grow.

In an exclusive interview with newstap.com.ng, the Swiss who have been involved in the development of women football in the country since 2001, lamented that not minding that the country boosts of talented women footballers but lack of transparency in chosing national team players and proper organisation of the league  is affecting the progress of the game.

” I’ve been involved in the development of women football in this country for many years and my experience shows that there are a lot of talented players in this country but lack of transparency and poor organisation is affecting the development of the game.

“It’s unfortunate that most times you see players who are more than 17 years old playing for the U-17 thereby denying good players in that age  bracket the opportunity to play for their country and garner more experience; which enables them progress to the next stage and under such a situation, the game cannot grow because after every major tournament, players who are supposed to graduate to the next level will fizzle out which to me is an anomaly.

” Our football administrators are also not helping matters because the women league is not properly organised and there is no modalities put in place to monitor the progress of these players as is done in other climes rather they’re only interested in what to gain which is an absurdity.

Kraemer whose association has discovered many players for the various national teams through their annually organised women football tournament lamented that the NFF has not shown enough interest in what his body is doing.

” My association has been organising women football tournaments annually for more than 20 years now but hardly do you see any member of the NFF or national team coaches coming around to monitor what we’re doing as well as scout for players and  there’s no way our football will grow with that type of attitude.

He was also not happy with the fire brigade approach being adopted in preparing players for international competitions; noting that the system does no body any good.

On the chances of Super Falcons in this year’s World Cup to be hosted by Australia and New Zealand later next month, he advised the team to remain focused and put  in their best in order to do the country proud at the competition.

” I’ve no doubt that the Super Falcons will improve on their previous performances at the World Cup in Australia/ New Zealand but there is the need for the team to be focused and avoid distractions which might affect their performance especially in the Group stage where they’ll face the host country, Australia, Canada and Republic of Ireland.

“The coaching crew led by Randy Woldrum  whom I believe from their own calculations  have invited players they think can give them good result  must work towards improving on the quarter- final finish of the team at the 1999 edition hosted by the United States and in doing this must ensure that only players who are not match rusty are used in all the matches”, he stressed.

Kraemer who blamed lack of trust for the near absence of sponsors for female football in the country, promised to always do his best for the game to enable talented young  Nigerian girls achieve their full potentials in the round leather game.