Nigeria legend Perpetua Nkwocha admits she is unlikely to
play another African Women's Championship - but has told
the BBC it would be her "dream" to coach the Super
Falcons in the future.
On Saturday she helped Nigeria win their 7th African
Women's Championship
here in Windhoek - coming off the bench in the final
minutes of their 2-0 win over Cameroon.
The 38-year old concedes that her international career will
be over by the time of the next AWC, in Cameroon in 2016,
which is why she is looking to the future.
"My dream is to encourage the young ones, to tell them
[that] if they have talent for football, they need someone
who can encourage them," the four-times African footballer
of the year told the BBC.
And she is especially happy to hand over the striking
duties to the new young partnership of Desire Oparanozie
and Asisat Oshoala - respectively the top scorer and
player of the tournament in Namibia.
Especially Oshoala, top scorer at the Under 20 Women's
World Cup earlier year - who reminds many Nigeria fans of
the young Perpetua Nkwocha.
"When I watched Asisat in the U20, I got a lot of messages
saying - 'we've found another Perpetua!'," Nkowcha said.
"I watched her play and I was so happy - I tried to
encourage her more, especially in this competition.
"I told her 'you have to show the whole world - you went to
the Under 20 and you did it, now you have to come to the
senior team and do it' - and she made me proud."
Whilst admitting she won't be in Cameroon in two years'
time, Nkwocha didn't rule out making it to one more
Women's World Cup, in Canada next year.
"This will be my last AWC, but for the World Cup - I don't
know yet. When the times comes [to make a decision] I'll
signal the whole world to know," she said - as the Super
Falcons gathered to head to the airport in Windhoek.
Depending on which set of statistics you use, Nkowcha has
been in the winning squad of either five or six African
Women's Championships.
Her playing time may well be coming to an end but - if she
has anything to do with it - her influence on Nigerian
women's football is set to be felt for a long time to come.
play another African Women's Championship - but has told
the BBC it would be her "dream" to coach the Super
Falcons in the future.
On Saturday she helped Nigeria win their 7th African
Women's Championship
here in Windhoek - coming off the bench in the final
minutes of their 2-0 win over Cameroon.
The 38-year old concedes that her international career will
be over by the time of the next AWC, in Cameroon in 2016,
which is why she is looking to the future.
"My dream is to encourage the young ones, to tell them
[that] if they have talent for football, they need someone
who can encourage them," the four-times African footballer
of the year told the BBC.
And she is especially happy to hand over the striking
duties to the new young partnership of Desire Oparanozie
and Asisat Oshoala - respectively the top scorer and
player of the tournament in Namibia.
Especially Oshoala, top scorer at the Under 20 Women's
World Cup earlier year - who reminds many Nigeria fans of
the young Perpetua Nkwocha.
"When I watched Asisat in the U20, I got a lot of messages
saying - 'we've found another Perpetua!'," Nkowcha said.
"I watched her play and I was so happy - I tried to
encourage her more, especially in this competition.
"I told her 'you have to show the whole world - you went to
the Under 20 and you did it, now you have to come to the
senior team and do it' - and she made me proud."
Whilst admitting she won't be in Cameroon in two years'
time, Nkwocha didn't rule out making it to one more
Women's World Cup, in Canada next year.
"This will be my last AWC, but for the World Cup - I don't
know yet. When the times comes [to make a decision] I'll
signal the whole world to know," she said - as the Super
Falcons gathered to head to the airport in Windhoek.
Depending on which set of statistics you use, Nkowcha has
been in the winning squad of either five or six African
Women's Championships.
Her playing time may well be coming to an end but - if she
has anything to do with it - her influence on Nigerian
women's football is set to be felt for a long time to come.
posted from Bloggeroid
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