The Oyo State Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has said that Seyi Akinwunmi’s observations made at the Oyo SWAN Forum, ‘Hot Seat’ on the challenges of administering women football in Nigeria was reported out of context by a section of the sporting media.
According to a statement by the body, “Ordinarily, his comments represent an honest diagnosis of the arrested development of women football which should be commended and placed on the front burner of conversations for the development of that genre of football.
“We wish to place it on the records that the observations of Barrister Akinwunmi, who is the first vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is being interpreted out of context and being promoted in negative connotations by those bent on mischief, most of who were not present at the forum.
“The NFF 1st vice President in his response to the question by one of the participants began by avowing his huge passion for women football and grassroots football which his administration as Chairman of Lagos State Football Association has championed. Among some other problems of running women football he highlighted were comparatively higher cost and lower returns on investment. He also pointed to the dearth of women football players arising from the place of women in traditional practices of the country and the concentration of interest by both corporate Nigeria and individuals on men’s football.
“His only mention of Lesbianism was in general terms and not relative to women football and it in no way suggests an opinion on sexual orientation of any player. Sexual restriction in football camps is also enforced in men’s teams and the reason is obviously to reduce the distraction from focusing on work.
“The Oyo State SWAN fully endorse the position expressed by Akinwunmi and would want the Federation to back his plans to revive the women football league.”
