Former Super Falcons striker, Desire Oparanozie, has called on owners of clubs featuring in the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), to ensure their players are well paid to encourage more young girls to take football as a career.
Speaking recently after retiring from national team and club football, Oparanozie said that the welfare of players could go a long way to improving the standard of the women’s league.
The ex-Wuhan Jianghan University of China FC striker also called on football administrators to keep organizing grassroots football championships across the country to discover more female players.
She said: “Clubs in the Nigeria Women’s league have to pay players attractive wages to sustain their career while playing football. When players are paid well and not owed salaries, it will bring out the best in them. If a player has a good welfare package while playing football, she does not have to be worried about any external problems. She will concentrate 100 percent on the game.”
She continues: “When Nigeria league players are paid well it will encourage more girls to play football and also improve the standard of the league in the country. More has to be done to discover outstanding talents from the grassroots.”
Oparanozie added that she will be willing to contribute her quota to promote women’s football in Nigeria.
The 29-year-old Oparanozie thanked her fans, family, and friends for their support over the years, just as she appreciated the coaches as well as her teammates in the national team.
