Women’s football enthusiast and advocate, Moses Bako Nagogo has recounted his experience at the just concluded 2023 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Championship.
The second-tier women’s football league in Nigeria produced two teams that gained promotion to top-fight NWFL Premiership at the end of the 2023 season in Ikenne, Ogun State.
Two privately owned teams, Lakeside Queens (Ogun State) and Dannaz Ladies (Lagos State) gained promotion to the top flight.
“We give glory to God Almighty who saw us through the Championship and the end of the 3 tiers of the NWFL 2022/23 Season.
Sometimes people use the word ‘Championship ’ loosely. It takes someone who has seen and experienced the scars of battles to appreciate that word.
The Championship was the toughest I have witnessed.
It was also well organised,” Bako told www.kick442.com
“Let me talk from the angle of an advocate. One difficult thing is laying a foundation. It takes a lot of energy, stress, labour, and careful planning and execution. It is easy to raise the blocks for a structure but laying its foundation is very critical. Whatever you see today at NWFL is part of the Foundation laying, which is the rebranding of NWFL by the Aisha Falode-led board and the COO did very well to maintain the standard with a smooth competitive league, Wonderful Super 6, Superb Championship, and great Nationwide league.
Hoping therefore the the Foundation will be completed by the new board and we will start laying the blocks to build the best women’s league in the world.”
On expectations from the newly appointed board which is headed by Nkechi Obi, Bako seeks for support for the new board from all stakeholders while stating the new things he wants the board to adopt.
He added: “What should the board be expecting from us. The us here are “all stakeholders”
Club administrators, Club Owners, Players, Coaches, women football advocates, Supporters Clubs, Fans and you people the media.
Let’s give maximum cooperation, let’s give selfless support, let’s promote our league.
The media should help, and give out positive stories..see if you are watching an EPL match, if there is an encroachment by any fan in the pitch, the camera will be showing the fans, and only through the commentary you will hear what is happening but here in Nigeria all camera is on the fan and everything going on.
Let’s change it. We don’t wash our dirty linen outside.
Again, _A leader has not really succeeded until his or her successor has succeeded_ so every one of us who believes in moving women’s football forward, who believes in the rebranding, who believes we can play a league without walkover etc. should put in all the energy to make the new board succeed.
“Well, like you mentioned on personal grounds.
First and foremost, I will like to see a balanced league so that no team will be on “bye” every week.
Secondly, the NWFL Championship should be played on a home and away basis regionally.
4 groups, South-South, South-east, South-west and North
After which a Super 4 or 8 is agreed on to promote 2 teams to the Premiership
Then the Nationwide should be played also on a regional basis in a center in the regions to produce 4 teams for promotion to the Championship.
Thirdly, both the NWFL Championship and Nationwide should be played to the end point of getting an outright winner.
Fourthly, we pray for Sponsorship so our clubs can get a start of grants to take off the season.
Thank you very much.” He concluded.
