Yes. I was blessed to be one of the pioneers of Falcons in Nigeria. It was an incredible experience for me. I was selected from the then Princess Jegede ladies to the camp of 50 women from different clubs. I must tell you that it was fun and at the same time a battle for a position in the team of final 25. I was selected from my club as a left midfielder, but in one of the friendly matches that we played, our late coach Paul Hamilton moved me to left full back. From that day, the position became my permanent position. As for the team as a whole, after the final 25 was selected, we became a family. Although we had our issues but generally it was fun living in the same place with everyone of the players. I also enjoyed playing under the supervision of a coach and a father figure in the person of Hamilton.
The team was determined and committed to going to the first ever women World Cup hosted by China. After a very tough match against the Lionesses of Cameroun in Lagos, we went out like wounded lions to humiliate them in front of their home fans in Cameroun. We had a very good relationship with our local coaches. When we were in the field, it was nothing but seriousness and outside the field, they were like fathers to us.
I am the only girl in a family of three and a middle child. I grew up thinking and acting like a boy. I started playing soccer with boys in the street of Mushin in Lagos. I was taken to Imo state for my secondary education. The soccer coach in the Oru Local Government sports council took me to Owerri to join the Imo State team after seeing me play with the boys. Barely two weeks after joining the team, my mom and I relocated to Lagos. I then went to the National Stadium Surulere to look for a team and that was how I joined the Hamza Babes. From Hamza, I joined the Nigeria Air Force women soccer team, and later Princess Bola Jegede Babes where I was selected to join the national team.
My late father was never in support of me playing soccer. He was of the opinion that women should not play soccer rather should go to school. He was not educated and for that reason, all he wanted was for me to go to college. My mom did not really care whether I played or not. All that she wanted was for me to be happy, My brothers supported me especially my younger brother. In fact, I did not tell my father that I was invited to the national team camp, it was my younger brother that I told.
I am from Mgbidi in Imo State, south eastern Nigeria. My parents are late ( Mr. Francis A. Ezeocha and Mrs. Cecilia E. Ezeocha ) I have two brothers Goddy & Bright Ezeocha, and many nieces and nephews. I am happily married to the best man on earth. Mr. Naat Onwuanibe from Umuoba Uratta, Owerri in Imo State. In fact, God used him to get me to where I am today. From the very first day that I met him, he never stopped talking to me about education. He encouraged and supported me all through my university and our marriage is blessed with four beautiful children. I met my husband at the National Sports Link when I was invited for an interview. Late Chief Ejikeme Nze; the owner of Sports Link was his childhood friend and in-law. My husband encouraged me to take the GCE exams to get my English while I was still playing with Delta Queens. He was always asking me this question “After soccer, what's next?" That got me thinking. I am happy that I listened to him. He told me that he saw a lot of potentials in me.
I do not have any regrets playing soccer because I have an infinite interest in it. It was fun for me and I enjoyed every moment I had with my team mates.
There is no particular time or age to quit playing, but every athlete should have a back up plan because life happens, you know what I mean? When one can no longer run or play the way he or she would usually do, you know it is time to quit. We all know that we cannot play soccer forever. I want you to know that not everyone is fortunate or privileged like me to play for a school in the the United States. My advice to the young players is to have a back up plan and just as Kenny Rogers said in the song 'Gambler', you got to know when to hold on, know when to walk away and when to run”. Don’t wait until it’s too late.
I started my soccer career with Hamza Babes from there to Nigeria Air Force, to Jegede, to Simbiat Abiola Babes, to Pelican Stars, to Rivers Angel, and finally to Delta Queens. In fact, we were the first to play for Delta Queens. I played for Young Harris College in North Georgia and Clayton State University in Atlanta Georgia. I coached for Vogelsinger Soccer Academy along side with prominent coaches from Brazil, England, Germany, Italy, Denmark and many other countries. I also coached for Hempstead High School New York in 2019. By the grace of God, I am now a Registered Nurse. I don’t have any regret playing for Nigeria but I like to point out that Nigeria does not treat their athletes right. I found out not too long ago from the foreign players, that FIFA had always given money to players for participating in a World Cup. NFA never gave the players any participation money given to players by FIFA. I was in two World Cups but did not get a dime for participating. So where did the money go? That’s what I am talking about.
The NFF need to invest money in the training and preparation to achieve results. They cannot wait until few months to a competition to start gathering the players. The players coming from different clubs should practice together to understand each other. Soccer is a team sport, therefore individual skill is not enough.
The Super Falcons are still the best in Africa. Nigeria is blessed with talented players, all they need is the right coach, support and motivation.
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