Super Falcons’ defender, Ugo Njoku, is an example of progression in the women’s national teams having played at the U-17 and U-20 levels. She talks about her life, career and more in this interview with Idris Adesina
Congratulations on your African title win. How did you feel winning your first title with the Falcons?
The joy of having a winner’s medal around my neck makes me very happy. It is an achievement that I won’t forget in a long time to come.
You also were in Canada for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup where the Falconets lost in the final to Germany. How would you describe that final defeat?
My general assessment of that tournament is that we did quite well. Getting to the final itself was a great achievement for us because we met stiff opposition from the teams we played. When we were leaving for Canada, nobody expected us to get to the final but we surprised everybody. That loss to Germany was a monumental one for me because I believe that we shouldn’t have lost that match to them. Everybody in the team was really sad because we had almost won the game but we lost due to our anxiety. Our attackers had many chances to score but they were too anxious to do it and some others too were greedy. Everyone wanted to score the winning goal.
Nigeria will be going back to Canada again in 2015 for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. If you make the team, what is your personal target for the competition?
If I make the team to the World Cup, my aim is to help the team go as far as possible. We have not been able to scale the quarter final hurdle that was achieved by the legends in USA in 1999. My aim is to help the team break that record and go beyond the quarter-finals.
The Falcons have been drawn against Sweden, Australia and the USA in Group D of the competition. What do you think are our chances of progressing from the group?
There are no more small teams anywhere in women’s football. If those teams believe that they can run over us at the World Cup they will be very surprised. The teams in the same group with Nigeria are established in women’s football but we are no pushovers. The way people say we are in a difficult group tends to spark fears into players’ hearts but I think we will progress from the group with hard work and a little bit of luck. Since we won’t be there to complete the numbers, I believe that football is a game of 90 minutes and as such, we won’t lose focus or hope before playing the games.
How did you come into football?
I didn’t look at anybody before I developed the love for football. It has been something I had always wanted to do. I started playing football from my primary school. I also remember that I was good at it and I find happiness in playing the game.
What challenges did you face?
I faced lots of challenges from the grownups around me when I started playing football. Many people see football as a game for only boys. My mum didn’t want me to play football because she saw it from a different point of view from mine. I was punished many times and there were times I won’t go home from training. Some other times I won’t sleep at home and at other times I will go into hiding for days just to enable me go for trainings. She wanted me to stop playing football and face my education.
Now that you are established in the game, any plans to go back to school?
Yes. I have been planning to go back to school now that I think I have the opportunity. I presently have my Senior Secondary School Certificate and I will love to attend the University of Port Harcourt to study Theatre Arts.
As a defender, who is the toughest striker you have played against?
Every striker has a way of trying to prove tough to defenders but the toughest striker I have played against will be Desire Oparanozie. That is because she is very skillful, strong and can dribble and outrun anybody on the pitch.
How would you describe the women’s football league in the country?
Our league is presently nothing to write home about. It is in a very bad state because no attention seems to be paid to it. The men’s league is enjoying the attention while we suffer neglect and I can say that it’s not that they are better than us. The women’s league presently has no winners trophy. When we (Rivers Angels) won the league, no trophy was presented to us and till now, we still haven’t seen the trophy of the league which we won. That is the extent of neglect that we suffer. We are just champions for nothing; there is nothing to show we are the winners of the league. The problem of women’s football in Nigeria is the lack of interest by the administrators and sponsors. We are being treated in ways that is very unequal with the men’s teams. For instance, since we won the 2014 African Women Champioship, we have been promised a lot of things but we are yet to see a single one come to fruition. This isn’t the case with the men’s teams because we do see what they give them after every competition they win. If the administrators and sponsors can give us some attention, I believe that the game will grow in Nigeria and we will catch up with the big countries globally. The Nigeria Football Federation too should also help us so that the best in us can be given to Nigeria.
What do you think should be done to improve women football?
I believe that the administrators need to pay more attention to the women’s league because we are also footballers. They should try to get sponsors for the league like the men’s league and also provide some level of security for the players. Some clubs do not honour matches in the league but I can’t blame them because there is little they can do since there is little means of financing the teams. What the league needs is sponsorship and if that is present, our league will be better.
You run a lot and are good at taking set pieces. Have you played in any other position before?
No, I have always been a defender. I train specially for the set pieces because as a defender, I believe that I should also support the attackers to score for the team and win games. My coaches also encourage me to use my speed to help in the attack because I fall back quickly to defend.
What are your targets in 2015 for your club, Rivers Angels, and the national team?
With my club, I want to defend the trophies we won last season, while with the national team my target is to win the World Cup.
What has been your source of motivation?
My teammates and fans are my source of motivation.
If you had not been playing football, what would you have done?
I would probably have been an actress now. I love acting.
Asisat Oshoala has been in exceptional form for both club and country. As a teammate, what is your impression of the striker?
Asisat is a cool-headed, calm and nice individual. She sees everybody as the same and she can be very playful at times. Her form and success is not surprising because she is a hard worker.
There is the issue of discrimination against female footballers in Nigeria, have you ever been discriminated against?
Although people do say that I behave like a man, I see it as normal because some people cannot still understand why women play football. I have not been discriminated to my face but behind me, I know they do it.
Other countries in Africa seem to be catching up with Nigeria as far as women football is concerned. How do you view the threat posed by these countries as a player?
No African team can threaten Nigeria. The times that we underrated these countries, they came back to haunt us. Also, some Nigerians play for some of these countries. For instance, Gloria Okoro plays for Equatorial Guinea. They help these countries to haunt Nigeria. But if Nigeria is determined to win any competition in Africa, no country can stop us. We have the players and even the South Africans fear us.
Why do these Nigerian players go out to represent other countries?
The problems we have in our country like lack of motivation and poor welfare packages are what drives some of them out. Some others go out because they can’t make the national team here. If we don’t correct them, we will be losing good players to other countries. But no matter how difficult it is, I don’t see myself playing for any other country apart from Nigeria.
There have been cases of lesbianism in the national teams. Do you think it affects the team?
I have also heard it exists but I am yet to see it happen in all the teams I have played in. The act can ruin one’s career.
Will you consider a move to a league outside Nigeria if the opportunity beckons at you?
Yes, I won’t hesitate at all.
Nigeria has not been doing well at the world stage. What do you think is responsible for this?
I will say a lot of things are responsible but I think lack of experience and motivation would be the main ones.
You have played at all levels of the national team; the U-17 World Cup in Spain in 2010, the U-20 World Cups in Japan and Canada in 2012 and 2014 respectively and now the Falcons. How has this affected your game?
My movement from one stage to the other under different coaches has added more experience to my game and made me to obey instructions better than when I started playing football.
What are your best and worst moments?
My best moment is the AWC triumph and my worst moment so far was the U-20 final loss to Germany.
How do you deal with your male fans?
I ensure I respect them and when possible make sure the relationship is as cordial and normal as possible.
Who are the people who have stood by you in your career?
My family, coaches, teammates and many others I can’t name here.
How do you pass time if you are not training?
I watch movies and go out with my friends.
Any plans for retirement?
Yes. I have a business I run and I still want to go to school to have something I can fall back on. There are many retired sportsmen whose lives are not worth following.
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