By Gracious Akujobi Skipper of Falconets to the 2012 FIFA U-20 World Cup, Gloria Ofoegbu is hungry for glory at international level, having won all available trophies at the domestic scene.
The Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt defender told Prompt News that her focus is now on winning the African Women Championship as well as qualify for the World Cup.
Ofoegbu recalls that her decision to take football as a career led to serious disagreement between her parents.
According to her, while her father supported her football career, the mother kicked against because was of the view that football is for men only.
“I have achieved virtually everything with my club Rivers Angel FC, what I want now is to win the African women championship (AWC) and the World Cup with Falcons.
“I have always had this vision where I see Falcons winning the World Cup and I assure myself that I will be part of that team. I have been praying about it and I believe it will materialize” She said.
The no nonsense defender whose petite size does not deter her from taking own attackers says though her team pays her well, administrators of female football should desist from rating female football low in Nigeria.
Her words, “Female football is rated very low here. They keep saying it is still developing, that is why they pay us meagre salary as compared to what our male counterparts earn. Meanwhile, we do same training as men. It is high time they started paying us well”.
On why she has not moved abroad to play after her superlative performance at the last U-20 World Cup in Japan, Ofoegbu said she fell into the hands of dubious agents and would now want to take her time before moving to Europe.
“I had offers after the World Cup in Japan but my agent then was not a straight forward person .I travelled to the Netherlands for trial and to eventually sign for a Club unfortunately for me the arrangement my agent made with the club was not authentic.
“I have been having offers from so many agents who want me to be their player but I don’t want to rush into signing any deal with an agent just yet,” she said.
The fourth child among eight siblings from Imo State says if not for her father who gave her all the needed support, she would have abandoned football as a career because her mother hated and discouraged her from playing football.
“My dad was different. He volunteered to drop me off at my training venues and even bought me jersey, booth, chin guard, canvass etc when I started playing just to encourage me.
“He was my backbone. But, when my mum saw there is money in football she started encouraging me” she stated.
As the Super Falcons are in camp now preparing to qualify for another African Women Championship (AWC) Ofoegbu says she believes in her team mates, saying they are ready to redeem the image of Super Falcons.
