By Adanna Osinachi
No doubt Nigerian football has suffered series of setbacks in recent weeks and I am irked by the media’s response to these wobbles, instead of doing objective analysis Of the immediate and remote causes of what led to Super Falcons exit from the Africa qualifier for the Olympic Games and the unexpected loss of Super Eagles in WAFU and CHAN cups, they rather found a scapegoat in Ruth David the former unit head of women football with the NFF.
They branded Ruth David as the nemesis of Nigerian women football, they blamed her for the resignation of expatriate coach Thomas Derneby, they accused her of influencing appointments and sacking of coaches and captains as well as invitations to national teams.Traducers also slammed her for being responsible for everything bad in women football over the past 10 years.
For those who don’t know Ruth David, a 1998 graduate of Bayero University Kano and a master degree holder In Sports management is an assistant director with the NFF because some group of persons have an axe to grind with her out of envy for the rapid way her profile in both FIFA and CAF circles has risen, they vowed to bring her down by enlisting some senior journalists to try her in the media. She has been made to look like the devil herself.
Surprisingly, while the same media are putting the blame of Super Eagles crashes from CHAN and WAFU cups on the inactivity of the NPFL, no one is apportioning blame on the sorry state of our women league for the exit of Super Falcons in the Olympic Games qualifier. Very fascinating
Having been secretary of all women football national teams ( U-17. U-20. U-23 and Super Falcons before being promoted to head the women football development unit, Ruth David cannot be said to be a failure with all the achievement recorded in women football during her tenure as secretary and head of unit.
Under her watch as teams secretary Nigeria won the AWC in 2010 and in 2014. Super Falcons also qualified for the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 after winning the All Africa Games gold in 2007. As Head of Women football development, she boasts of two AWC titles, WAFU cup and All Africa Games gold and World Cup tickets in all cadre of the national teams
One begins to wonder why the orchestrated attack on Ruth David is just to get her out as head of the women football development unit. But the snag is that even after her removal from that office, the detractors and their attack dogs in the media have not rested, they now want her posted away from anything that has to do with football.
You don’t throw away an assistant director who is a professional aside from having MSC in sports management, boast of a couple of FIFA training certificates. Detractors fear that as new head of the international unit. Those clamouring for this don’t want the progress of the game but interest of their sponsors.
Let it told that those who don’t know the sacrifices Ruth has put to save the country from being embarrassed at local and international competitions. As an insider, I can confirm that Ruth had on several occasions bailed Nigeria out of tight situations by committing her personal resources to run the team’s camp. She expertly managed the pre world cup training camp well in Austria when players threatened not to go to the World Cup in France until they are paid their outstanding allowances and bonuses
I can also recall how many times NFF President Amaju Pinnick had poured encomium on Ruth David for her sacrifices and managerial savvy describing her as one of his most committed and trusted staff.
My appeal to all those who have put Ruth David on there spot with their media trial is to desist from there campaign of calumny against someone who only carried out directive from her superiors and face the real issue of why our football league has declined in recent seasons. They should tell the managers of the women league to raise their game and let the women football league strive
I think it is shameful we are yet to conclude the 2018/19 season despite playing an abridged league. I am of the opinion that we shall dominate Africa nay the world if our league is up and doing with good sponsorship and better managing of the league. I rest my case.
