The proprietress and founder of the defunct Omidiran Babes of Osogbo, Alhaja Ayo Omidiran, has disclosed the reasons she rested the club which was one of the foremost women’s football clubs in the country.
The two-time former member House of Representatives, who spoke with Sporting Tribune, on the sideline of the unveiling of a football tournament tagged ‘Girls Play Sports Football Tournament’ being sponsored by Ayomidiran Foundation, said her movement outside Osun State and the absence of direct supervisory role for the team made her to disband the team.
While not ruling out the possibility of resuscitating the club in future, the former NFF executive member stated that her project ‘Girls Play Sports’ will serve a greater purpose much more than football.
Omidiran also spoke on her efforts as Head, Women’s Football League of the then Nigeria Football Association and how they started the women’s professional football league in Nigeria.
“Omidiran Babes served a purpose when I formed it. I was there to nurture it. The girls were living with me practically. We’re all in Osun. But then, when I moved outside Osun, it became a huge challenge to keep the team going.
“And by the grace of God and the support of other members of my board, when I was on the board, the Ibrahim Galadima-board (NFF), we started a professional (women’s) league and it became a bit difficult for me to run it (Omidiran Babes) as a professional team without outside help. So, I had to rest the team.
“After a while, I brought it back to play as amateur. Still, the challenge of not having direct supervisory role made it difficult to also keep it up. So, that is why Omidiran Babes for now, is rested. I cannot say it will not come back, maybe it can come back but for now, I do not have any intention to bring it back.
“And I believe that this project (Girls Play Sports) that we have embarked on is going to even serve a greater purpose than to just own a football team that will play seasonal, then go and rest and when they call them again they come back. However, Omidiran Babes is not dead yet,” she said.
The adjustment comes amid ongoing calls from players for higher earnings at Grand Slam events...
In this report, TAOFEEK LAWAL writes on the appalling state of the MKO Abiola National…
Sporting Lagos finished top of the group with 36 points, three points above second-placed Akwa…
"The project is guided by a long-term vision and a strategic plan that combines ambition,…
Their rapid progression has now earned them places on one of the country’s biggest athletics…
Manninger made 64 appearances for Arsenal between 1997 and 2002, winning the Premier League and…
This website uses cookies.