Maureen Mmadu, a former Nigeria’s Super Falcons midfielder and assistant coach, is working hard towards ensuring that her team, Maureen Mmadu Kiddies, do not lose the rare opportunity of participating in the famous Dana Cup Invitational Tournament in Denmark next July, Completesports.com reports.
Mmadu who was Thomas Dennerby’s assistant coach when the Super Falcons retained the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title in 2018 and reached the Round of 16 at the World Cup in 2019, is working assiduously to nurture up great female football talents from her grassroots initiative in Anambra State.
Maureen Mmadu Kiddies were handed a maiden invite for the showpiece earlier billed for August this year but the Covid-19 related issues ensured it was moved to July, 2022. Despite the shift in date, there is still a high hurdle for Mmadu to scale as the female tactician needs to complete all her team’s registration formalities before the end of November 2021 for her girls to stand a chance of featuring in the tournament.
Completesports.com checks reveal that the cost of registration for participation in the tournament is thought to be in the region of N30m. Consequently, Mmadu has embarked on a number of fund raising drives to try to pull the financial trigger, including holding novelty football matches with her former Super Falcons players/friends comprising Yinka Kudaisi, Stella Mbachu, Vera Okoro, Taiwo Ajobiewe, Julie Ekwenike and Ekpo Efiomwen.
There is also the Raffle Draw already in place through which she hopes to pluck some funds while hoping for further support and assistance from individuals, corporate organisations and governments at all levels – local government, state and federal.
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Amidst the cash crunch, the former Super Falcons player told Completesports.com that they are looking forward to the Denmark showpiece with huge excitement.
“We can’t wait to experience it,” starts Madu when Completesports.com spoke to her on the sidelines of the Maureen Mmadu anf Friends exhibition clash against Fegge All Stars, Onitsha,” Mmadu who was capped 101 times by Nigeria and featured in four FIFA Women’s World Cup finals and two Olympic Games stated.
“Personally, I have been experiencing it because, when I was (coaching) in Norway, I usually take my team to that place (Denmark). For sure, the girls are eagerly looking forward to it.
“First, it would be their first time outing outside Nigeria. Perhaps, first time air trip and of course, their first time meeting their European counterparts. Don’t forget the fact that being in a foreign land (country) for the first time comes with this huge feeling of excitement.
“It’s really going to be a dream come true for them because they have been expecting this type of opportunity and being the first time they are going to be there, it’s really going to be a thrilling experience for them and myself too because this is the very first time we are going to attend that tournament”.
The former Avaldsnes Idrettslag of Norway player and coach would go on to shed light on her efforts to raise funds for the Muareen Mmadu Kiddies’ Denmark trip , saying it’s important to make efforts before expecting cash help from possible sponsors, governments, individuals and corporate outfits.
Mmadu added: “I know that the economy is not friendly at the moment. It’s so stiff and tight, but we are not folding our hands and expecting manna to fall from heaven for us, financially. So, that’s reason I’ve embarked on some kind of fund raising activities.
“In this regard, I’ve embarked on several friendly matches to see how we can muster some funds. So far, we’ve played two friendly games against All Stars FC, Onitsha, and Fegge All Stars. We will also play another one on Friday (29th October) here in Onitsha. I’m grateful to my friends and ex Super Falcons teammates who have supported me with their presence during this weeklong Maureen and Friends Novelty matches.
“I’m also indebted to the All Stars for their support. We also use the opportunity to appeal to them to talk to their friends on our behalf, to see how they can help us raise funds at this moment of our dire need. On our side, don’t forget, to whom much is given, much is expected in return. We have rolled out a Raffle Draw as part of our fund raising efforts. The raffle ticket sells for just N100 with a refrigerator as first prize.
“There are also other consolatory prizes. On our own, we are trying to see what we can do so that when we go out there to meet someone, on sponsorship drive, for assistance, so to speak, and he asks, ‘but how much do you have and what level of assistance do you expect?’, it wouldn’t look like we just folded our hands. So that’s why we are trying to raise funds through this raffle tickets and as well talk to friends and well wishers and corporate bodies to come and help us”.
