By Emma Njoku
Ex-Super Falcons’ star, Martha Tarhemba, has lamented that after helping Nigeria to win the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) three times, all she got was N6,000 transport fare to go home and nurse the injury she sustained in the national team’s camp which ended her football career.
The United States-based Tarhemba expressed regrets that she and some of her ex-Falcons teammates have nothing to show for trophies they won besides featuring at the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the Olympics. She considered the current generation of Super Falcons players extremely lucky to have been adequately rewarded by President Bola Tinubu.
“From Minnesota, I say a big shootout to the current Super Falcons for making Mission X real in Morocco. I’m really proud of them. They are extremely lucky for the reception and largesse from our dear President Tinubu. In my time, there was no appreciation or support from the government, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), or anyone. I won three African titles, played in the second round of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and was at the Olympics. I have nothing to show for those years in the national team.
“I was not even allowed to leave camp with my jersey after getting N6,000 transport fare. My football career ended with a fatal knee injury which I sustained in the Super Falcons’ camp. That pain is still affecting my movement and other activities till date. It would cost me $40,000 for the much needed surgery. I don’t have such money as I have been struggling to survive in the States here as a single parent. My little earnings go into the upkeep of my three kids. This knee injury hurts me physically and emotionally. I shed tears whenever I see my pictures in Nigerian colours”, lamented the former Simbiat Abiola Queens of Abeokuta and Pelican Stars of Calabar playmaker.
While applauding President Tinubu for setting the pace in the reward system, the Benue State born Tarhemba, who recently lost her mother, pleaded with the Presidency to extend same fatherly love to past winners of the WAFCON.
“Yeah, President Bola Tinubu has proved a different leader by correcting the wrong of the past administrations. Many ex-Super Falcons are suffering. The National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials should help us appeal to President Tinubu to also make us happy. Our pacesetting records should be supplied by the sports officials. Kudos, too, to the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for giving fresh hope to women”, Tarhemba said.
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