Nasarawa State Government has been urged to build a complex that would provide for the accommodation needs of the female players.
The state Chairman of the Sports Writers Association ( SWAN), Comrade Smah George, appealed when he led other members of the association on a courtesy call to the management of the female Football club, Nasarawa Amazons in Lafia the state capital.
Comrade George also called on the state government to close the salary gap between Nasarawa United Football Club and Nasarawa Amazons Football Club to encourage effective performance in football tournaments.
According to him, the Edo State Government had already normalized the salary difference between its male and female teams, saying that the effects have been seen in the performance of the female team at the national tournament, calling on the state government to emulate them.
The SWAN Chairman further urged Indigenous people of the state to eliminate barriers that prevent the girl child from participating in sporting activities and advocated a conducive environment that will encourage the development of sports in the state and country at large.
“Cultural and religious barriers have continued to prevent the girls in the state from participating in sporting activities. These barriers such as tribal differences, religion or political affiliations should be eliminated to allow the female folks to express their God-given talents,” he said.
Comrade George commended the management of the club for repositioning the team.
“Nasarawa Amazons Football has consistently performed well both in the Women Professional Football League (NWPFL), Federation Cup and at the pre-seasons due to the purposeful leadership role of the management of the club under Hajiya Hussaina Suleiman Nagogo”, he added.
The SWAN Chairman informed the team of the forthcoming SWAN’s week which he said will begin on 26th August, 2024, and called for support.
He therefore, reassured of the association’s commitment to continuously promote the activities of the club to ensure the growth and development of the state.
Responding, the Chairperson of Nasarawa Amazons Football Club, Hajiya Hussaina Suleiman Nagogo, appreciated members of the association for the visit.
Nagogo praised the critical role of Journalists in holding government accountable to the people and called on them to do more in other to promote sporting activities in the state.
She commended the Nasarawa State Government for the support given to her club and appealed to Governor Abdullahi Sule to look into the issues affecting the growth and development of the club which she said was carefully listed by the SWAN Chairman to include closing the disparities in salaries of players and a Complex for the girls given their sensitivity.
“The state government has been doing a lot to ensure the growth of the club but there is a need in the area of the welfare of the players to motivate them to perform well in the forthcoming coming competition,” she said.
She therefore promised to collaborate with the association to take female football to a higher height.
