From the treatment of fierce rivals to the inspiring young players, Olowookere shares the secret behind the team’s impressive performance and unwavering motivation.
The road to the U-17 Women’s World Cup is by no means easy, but for Nigerian flamingo, it was a path marked by determination, discipline and deep pride.
Under the guidance of Coach Bankole Olowookere, the team showed resilience and brilliance on comparable scales.
After a 5-1 total victory over South African arch rivals, Olowookere sat down in premium time to reflect on what was fueled by the team’s performance and relentless drive.
Destroy South Africa’s victory
When asked about the team’s performance so far, Olowookere couldn’t hide his pride:
“Great. Great, great, praise for my girls. The praise for them worked. It wasn’t that easy after the preparations before South Africa.
“There was a lot of noise before South Africa. First of all, knowing Nigeria and South Africa’s rivalry wasn’t that easy. We went there.
The coaches highlighted the team’s focus and execution, particularly in the decisive second game. “The girls responded to my instructions. What we wanted to do was to score the first goal to at least increase the number of goals we got.
Keep the fire burning: motivations that surpass the scoreline
Despite holding a comfortable lead after the first leg, the Flamingo did not disappoint security. Olowookere revealed a unique bond within the team.
“It’s family. We call ourselves family. I’m a father. Some of the women on the coaching crew are mothers. They’re all my children. It’s just a family affair. We don’t want to lose, we want to move forward.”
For Olowookere, motivation runs deeper than tactics or PEP talk. It is to instill pride and purpose:
“We want to count our careers. We’ve been to the World Cup twice, some of them have been there once, and new ones want to be there.
“We told them how sweet the World Cup is and the stories of great treatments we get there, and that’s how we can turn them into spirit.”
The country behind them
The coach also pointed out the key role of external support in pushing the team to a higher height.
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“Everyone played a role in getting to this level. The Federation gave us support. The afternoon before the match, the secretary and his aides came to motivate the girls. We couldn’t afford to disappoint Nigeria.”
Flamingo’s success is more than just winning. It is to represent the country. Olowookere has made it clear that every match is an opportunity to lift Nigeria and build a legacy.
“Imagine people who have Nigerians from all over the world at home. We decided to count that for Nigeria. We decided to be proud of us in Nigeria.”
Build dreams and careers
Beyond his immediate goal of competing in the World Cup, Olowookere understands the broader impact these moments have on the future of players.
“It’s a moral boost to my career, at least for me. What’s very important to me is because I asked them to play for me so that my career could still move forward.”
His vision extends to the long-term growth of his players:
“That’s the profile I’m building, and for some of them too. In the near future, some of them will be appearing on the U20 and Super Falcon, playing professional football and becoming a superstar. That’s what I encourage.”
Director Bankole Olowookere and his flamingo have not only pursued qualifications. They embodied resilience, unity and pride.
As they approach another World Cup, their story is one of dreams, devotion and desires that burn with pride in Nigeria.
