Opinion: NFF And Oparanozie Should Embrace Peace because It Is Priceless

  Opinion: NFF And Oparanozie Should Embrace Peace because It Is Priceless By Admin It is often said that when an incident happens more than two times, it becomes a tradition. It is no longer news to Nigerian football followers that different national teams have protested to the NFF to pay their wages, it is now a tradition. Sadly, some individuals pay the prize for demanding what is due them At the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France, a similar scenario was re-enacted and the captain of the team then, Desire Oparanozie, was at the forefront, she stood up for her teammates in an innocuous just course and demanded what was due them; that got her into the bad books of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF). [caption id="attachment_43079" align="alignnone" width="300"] Oparanozie jubilating after scoring a goal for Dijon FC of France[/caption] That singular action in France in 2019 affected the then coach of the Super Falcons, Thomas Dennerby, who left and Christopher Danjuma was drafted in to help the team to qualify for the Olympics, having failed in the last two attempts, and Danjuma being at the helm in one of those failures. On his first day in office, as if playing a script, Christopher Danjuma announced a new captain for the team, to the surprise of the players. There and then, it was clear signal that the end of Desire Oparanozie's contribution to the team had ended. The team eventually failed to progress to the next round of the 2020 Olympics qualifiers The Super Falcons got a new coach, Randy Waldrum and it was expected that he would bring the former captain back to the fold, but that was not to be. Deservedly so, that generated a lot of controversies among football followers and Nigerians asked questions why one of Africa's best strikers of the last decade did not make it to the team for the just concluded Turkish Cup in Antalya. [caption id="attachment_43080" align="alignnone" width="300"] Oparanozie trying to outsmart the goalkeeper in French Feminine match[/caption] As if leaving her out of the team was not enough, the football governing body in Nigeria told the striker to "work on her game," which is in itself, ridiculous A good look at the list released by Waldrum – as the NFF said, showed that the coach, who had never seen an Nigeria Women Football League game chose five home-based players from the league. Remarkably, three players who had not played competitive football in over one year were also invited to the team while Oparanozie who plays competitive league game every week in France was told to work hard so as to make the team list. This is not a way to treat a player that has given her all to the national team. The Dijon FC of France striker was at a time, playing for all the national teams at once; the U-17, U-20 and the Super Falcons. She represented Nigeria at the U-17, U-20, and the senior FIFA Women's World Cup. This is a striker whose goals have helped Nigeria to win 4 African Women's Cup of Nations titles. In fact, she scored in three finals out of the four she has won. This is a player that almost lost an eye while playing for the Super Falcons because of an eye injury, a player that rescued the Super Falcons in their times of distress. Desire Oparanozie scored one the most important goals in Nigeria's football history–a goal in the final of AWCON 2016. Before that goal in the final, she scored the winner for Nigeria against South Africa in the semi-final, and what a freekick that was Desire Oparanozie cannot be discarded from the national team as if she were a fringe striker. This is a player that fans call "The Didier Drogba" of the Super Falcons. With her strength and agility, she bulldozes her way through any stubborn defense. No wonder, in 2010, AWCON winning coach, Uche Eucharia called her "the bull," likening her to Nigerian legend, Daniel Amokachi How would she work on her game when she is actually doing well for her new French side, Dijon? When the Super Falcons list was released, she had scored 2 goals and had 4 assists in 9 games for Dijon this season. That is, 6 goals involvements in 9 games, and that is a good record for a striker. As it stands, the Super Falcons does not have a central striker who can take the role of Desire Oparanozie. She is still needed in the team. Granted, she will not stay in the team forever. However, she deserves a place in the team While some analysts hold the opinion that she could bring disunity to a team already divided, it is important to know the kind of person Desire is. It was probably these same players that have kept mum and pretended as if nothing had happened, that coaxed her into demanding for their rights, and now they have turned their backs on her because they still want to be in the team. Oparanozie may have used the wrong approach in demanding what is due the team but her 'sins' are not unforgivable. It is worrisome that a Federation that has fumbled countless times would severely punish someone who also, in their judgement, fumbled. The NFF said she is still part of the future for the team. Now I ask: What will change in the future? Will Oparanozie now be too submissive that she will gulp down the faults of the NFF? Will the NFF take her to a correctional centre where she will learn how to 'respect' them? What will really change? Whatever the case, she is still an asset to the team It is time for Desire Oparanozie too, to stop reacting to whatever the NFF says, as it could be detrimental to her career. Though she may not keep silent when she feels threatened, there are better ways to manage these matters. She could get a media manager who regulates how she responds to criticism. There have been reports in some quarters that her omission from the team could be connected to what she earlier tweeted about the country. That is also why Oparanozie should be careful about tweeting during a rush of emotions. Granted, the current captain of the team also tweeted an uncomplimentary remark about the country during that period, but she leads the team in Antalya Turkey, where the team are taking part in the Antalya Women's Festival Tournament. At this point, sauce for the goose is not sauce for the gander The men at the helm in NFF are fathers, and there are mothers there too. They should treat Oparanozie as a daughter. They know in their hearts, in fact, they do not have doubts that she is still needed in the team. It is time for them to discard their ego and open their arms to welcome the Dijon striker. Although she may not be captain anymore, she can still be in the team At this point, dialogue is key. The NFF can reach out to her for dialogue and forget whatever happened in the past. This is their time to brighten their image which is already dim in the hearts of many football lovers in Nigeria. Anyone that wants war has not enjoyed true peace. Desire Oparanozie should on her part, open her heart wide. If she gets contacted by the NFF or their mediators, she should be humble and listen. It is often said that "peace is priceless, terror is senseless". The NFF and Oparanozie should choose peace, because it is priceless