Football fever is burning afresh at White Sand Field in Orile-Iganmu area of Lagos, and it’s all coming courtesy of a female squad known as Phoenix Girls FC, Sports247 reports.
Consequently, memories have been brought alive about days of yore when 1994 African Footballer of The Year, Emmanuel Amuneke used to turn up physically at the open space along Mile 2-Ijora Expressway as the sponsor of former Nigerian Amateur National League campaigners, Soccer Warriors FC.
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The heavily sandy pitch also provided space for all three levels of National Grassroots Dream Team to groom their talents – among whom were Ayo Makinwa, Ifeanyi Emeghara, Femi Ajilore, Kazeem Ayila, Nnamdi Oduamadi and Benjamin Onwuachi, among many others.
They all developed their talents and endowed themselves physically by training regularly on the heavy sand of this pitch, until it was taken over as a parking site for petrol tankers and kiosks for traders who attended to the drivers.
At that point, football came to a stop at the open spread of vast land that was also frequented by former Super Eagles’ striker, Obafemi Akinwunmi Martins (Obagol), who lived just a stone’s throw to the field until he moved to FC Ebedie of Sagamu.
The good news, though, is that football has come alive once more at White Sand Field, which has now been upgraded to the beauty of a mini stadium, and Phoenix Girls FC is leading the resurgence of activities there in grand style.
To prove their mettle, the team recently finished as runners-up for the second year running in the glamorous Addbrand Youth Cup at Abalti Barracks near Ojuelegba, Surulere and that showed a huge level of continuity for the outfit that won the maiden edition of the same football carnival in 2023.
The club’s chairman/chief executive, Prince Ganiyu Adetunji told Sports247 that he is happy with how the female team’s coaching crew has been able to justify his decision to separate them from those who train the boys’ squad, which he also has under his banner.
Coach of the female squad, Balogun Waheed Olaitan told Sports247 that he is happy with the package provided by the CEO as well as the manner in which all the players listen to his instructions obediently.
“We do everything here like a professional club, and that’s why we are getting good results,” said the articulate tactician, who graduated from National Institute for Sports (NIS) in 2024.
He added: “I did not play league football, but the experience that I gained from the grassroots is helping me carry this team high. I also thank God and my CEO for helping me realise my passion.
“I love football and I do my coaching with all joy. For me, football is everything. At each point in time, I’m either coaching, playing, watching or talking football.”
Coach Waheed concluded by confessing that he was initially reluctant to handle the female squad, but quickly disclosed that he now cherishes the duty.
“I never thought I’d be training girls, but they are the ones who are getting along and helping me to express my passion for coaching,” he affirmed.
