Nigeria's Ngozi Ebere signs a one-year contract with top Norwegian Club

“Nigerian players are highly sought after, abroad and history has shown that foreign-based players bring knowledge and greater quality to their national teams’ play. ”

— Margaret Mandeya, FirstTouch Africa

Norwegian club Arna Bjornar has signed Super Falcons defender and the 2018 AWCON champion, Ngozi Ebere. Ebere’s career began in the Nigerian Women’s League where she won six titles with former club River Angles. The three-time CAF woman of the year has signed the year-long contract with Arna Bjornar after a one-year stay at Barcelona FA.

Francisca Ordega #17 of Nigeria celebrates her game-tying goal against Sweden with Asisat Oshoala #8 and Ngozi Ebere #23 during the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 Group D match between Sweden and Nigeria at Winnipeg Stadium on June 8, 2015 in Winnipeg, Canada.

(June 7, 2015 - Source: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images North America)

In 2015, Ebere made a major career move to PSG from the Nigerian Women’s League on a two-year contract. The year 2017 saw her leave PSG and the French Ligue unsatisfied, immediately moving to Cypriot side, Barcelona FA. The latest transfer to Norway has been highly praised with the 27-year-old defender touting the move to the Topperserian side as a fresh new challenge. The former PSG player told the media that joining the highly competitive Norwegian league offers the Nigerian an opportunity to grow as a player and added that, "As a professional, you want to keep testing yourself among the best, right now I am prepared for that."

Ebere has played for the Nigerian U-20 and appeared 20 times for the Super Falcons. In 2015, she was an integral part of the Super Falcons’ World Cup campaign and brings her experience to one of Europe’s top flight Leagues in Norway, where she will be a great asset for Arna Bjornar.  

Nigerian players are highly sought after abroad and history has shown that foreign based players bring knowledge and greater quality to their national teams’ play. The Super Falcons currently have a big pool of foreign-based players including former Arsenal Women player Asisat Oshoala, Desire Oparanozie and Onome Obi just to mention a few. Currently having a sorority of foreign-based players is best practice for the top teams on the continent.

The Norwegian league resumes in March. Ebere will join her new club for the pre-season training camp in Turkey in preparation for the fresh challenge in the Scandinavia.

Thulani Serero’s Return to the Bafana Squad. Hit or Miss?

Context

Call it confidence or knowing your worth. Thulani Serero was quoted saying, “The sofa in Arnhem[city in Netherlands] is more comfortable than the South African bench”. This was when the player was making it quite clear that he would not avail himself for training unless he is guaranteed game time. Because of that stance, the South African Football Association (SAFA) then posed a ban on the player. However, Serero has had the ban lifted and is being recalled to the South African national team set up. Does this set good precedence for other players? Even before we decide on that, let us look on who exactly Thulani Serero is.

“For them to be told that they could only interact with the player at training, if they would only step aside and let him shine on the field of play suggests that he considered himself far more important than they are.”

— Simiso Shabangu, FirstTouch Africa

Player

Thulani Serero (#25) of Ajax in action during the UEFA Champions League Group H match between Ajax Amsterdam and FC Barcelona at Amsterdam Arena on November 26, 2013 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

(Nov. 25, 2013 - Source: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Europe)

Thulani Serero is a midfielder who plays for Vitesse (a Dutch professional football team) and of course the same position for the South African national team. Prior to this, he was gracing the pitch with an Ajax Cape Town jersey in the South African Premier Soccer League. During the 2010-2011 season, he carried his team to the the finals of the Telkom Knockout tournament. In the same year, he was awarded PSL Footballer of the Year, PSL Player of the Season, PSL Players' Player of the Season and the ABSA Premiership Red Hot Young Player award. Sounds familiar right? Yes, Tau recently had some sort of similar accolades before moving to Brighton in the English Premier League.

Apology

Some South Africans believe that what the player did was disrespectful and he owes the nation an apology. They believe that the comments undermined the authority of the coach also proving Serero’s arrogance towards his teammates and the nation. Most importantly, further comments about his Bafana teammates aggravated the situation. For them to be told that they could only interact with the player at training, if they would only step aside and let him shine on the field of play suggests that he considered himself far more important than they are. How easy is it going to be for the Dutch based player to integrate into the team after he previously exalted himself to that extent? The move to have Thulani player back on the field in South African colors in the absence of a formal apology could be a definite miss.

Desperate times

Thulani Serero of South Africa controls the ball during the International Friendly match between South Africa and Brazil at FNB Stadium on March 05, 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

(March 4, 2014 - Source: Gallo Images/Getty Images Europe)

Looking at the time at which the 28-year-old is being called up makes one realize that having him back might be the best move because a lot is at stake. The country is going into matchday 5 of the 6 qualifiers that determine who lands a finals spot at the 2019 AFCON in Cameroon. They are set to face the Super Eagles (Nigerian national team) in a top of the table group E clash. Looking at the track record of the Super Eagles who have have 9 points (1 point ahead of South Africa), Bafana Bafana cannot afford to hold back from having some of its superstars on the pitch due to a misunderstanding. For the sake of having the country participate in the AFCON, it is quite important for this move to be considered not as the best hit, but as a necessary hit. Talk about the end justifying the means.

Conclusion

We can never fully emphasise that soccer is really beyond the game itself, but about how it influences other aspects of life like our personality. One thing for sure that Thulani could have done was to demonstrate a bit of respect for his teammates and country, even when he was not afforded any game time. Being on the bench does not make anyone less of a player, but it can be considered as a time to learn. However, past mistakes should not deter us from seeing the good in our teammates so perhaps its in order for Bafana to shout Siyakwamukela (welcome) Thulani!

2018 Women’s AFCON: Heroines Without Capes

As an African woman myself, I know that whenever you show an interest in “manly” sports like soccer, a good number of your neighbours will start questioning your sexuality. Once you start playing it, it does not get any better because you are told that nobody will marry you as your soccer will scare men away. In spite of all these stereotypes, there are women who have not just played soccer but have taken a huge societal stance, and are going to represent their nations.

As you pack your bags to Accra, Ghana for the 2018 Total Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, here is a list of five women that you should look out for as they fly the flags of their countries high.

Jermaine Seoposenwe of South Africa tackles Jessica Samuelsson of Sweden during the Women's Group E first round match between Sweden and South Africa during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 3, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

(Aug. 2, 2016 - Source: Buda Mendes/Getty Images South America)

“There will of course be oozing talent, excellent tactics and impressive dribbles that will leave us yearning for more from others as well. Most importantly, this tournament will continue to combat the stereotype that soccer is a manly sport. Soccer is a passion that can be pursued by anyone, regardless of their gender.”

— Simiso Shabangu, FirstTouch Africa

Asisat Oshoala, Nigeria

Hillia Kobblah of Ghana challenges Simone Laudehr of Germany during the women's international friendly match between Germnay and Ghana at Benteler Arena on July 22, 2016 in Paderborn, Germany.

(July 21, 2016 - Source: Lars Baron/Bongarts)

After winning the Africa’s Female Footballer of the Year award in 2017, the 23-year old Nigerian has been rising from grace to glory. She has appeared for the Super Falcons in the 2010 and 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. She was with Liverpool ladies in 2013, before she was taken by Arsenal Ladies in 2016. She is currently in China where she is not just playing for the China Dalian Quanjian FC, but has been crowned the best striker in the Chinese Women’s Super League. We are waiting expectantly to see what she will do for Nigeria in November 2018..

Barbra Banda, Zambia

She is currently hailed as the Zambian Sportswoman of the Year and she was She-polopolo’s top scorer in the 2017 Cosafa Women’s Championship. Notably, she is the reason why the Zambian team is even present at the tournament as she scored the winning goal against the Mighty Warriors of Zimbabwe. The striker’s tactics has wowed the whole of Southern Africa and we hope she will also grace the continent with her skills as it gathers in Ghana.

Grace Asentwaa, Ghana

She is only 17 but the midfielder was crowned player of the match in Ghana’s game against New Zealand in the final group game at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. If this young lady does grace us at the tournament, keep your eyes on her. It is inspiring and quite powerful to have someone at her age who has developed her passion to the level that Grace has. She is a gem for now and the future of global football.

Thembi Kgatlana , South Africa

Thembi Kgatlana of South Africa runs with the ball during the Women's Group E first round match between South Africa and China PR on Day 1 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 6, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

(Aug. 5, 2016 - Source: Harry How/Getty Images South America)

The 22-year old was so instrumental in South Africa’s COSAFA Women’s Championship in Zimbabwe that she left with the Player of the Tournament award. As if that was not enough, she has also been nominated for the African Player of the Year Award. This means that in this tournament, we will not just be looking out for her spectacular performance on the field, but we will be watching if she takes this award away as well. She is not just the top goal scorer in her team, but she also represented the University Sports South Africa National Team at the World Student Games in Taipei, Taiwan.

Gabrielle Aboudi Onguene, Cameroon

She is also nominated for the Female CAF Player of the Year Award, but this is not the first time the recognition has shone on her. She was the best Player at 2016 Africa Cup of Nations. As we can guess, this title does not just fall on anyone, but it comes as a result of hard work and unquestionably splendid performances. These are some of the things that are drawing us towards this 29-year old Cameroonian player. She is currently progressing her career with Rossiyanka in the Russian Championship.

This is not in anyway a comprehensive list of the women that we should look out for in this tournament. There will of course be oozing talent, excellent tactics and impressive dribbles that will leave us yearning for more from others as well. Most importantly, this tournament will continue to combat the stereotype that soccer is a manly sport. Soccer is a passion that can be pursued by anyone, regardless of their gender.