The newly unveiled Naija Ratels FC player and Super Falcons captain, Onome Ebi, has been given a land at Life Camp, one of the highbrow areas in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.
President of Ratels Sports Development Foundation (RSDF), Barr. Paul Edeh, announced this to the player during her unveiling at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja at the weekend.
He said the offer was in line with the Foundation’s resolve to continuously lift the status of women football in Nigeria, adding that RSDF will take responsibility for the monthly payment of Onome’s salary as Naija Ratels player.
According to Edeh, the 40-year-old experienced defender who captained the Super Falcons at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand will be earning N1.5million monthly, an amount which no woman player plying her trade in Nigeria had earned.
“I’m particularly elated today because what Onome brings to the club is beyond just playing football. Her presence will also motivate other players of the club to bring out their best and aspire to be the best, play for Super Falcons and so on,” he said.
Barrister Edeh, who is also the Benue State FA chairman added: “Today we have Stephen Keshi Stadium and some others named after men who have also done Nigeria proud, but no one is named after any woman.
“The best way to celebrate a woman who has not only made Nigeria but Africa proud is to name one of the stadia after Onome Ebi. For us at the RSDF, we have been at the forefront of developing women’s football for almost five years now.
“We are not only going to celebrate Onome, we will do what is required to celebrate the legend. And that is why today, on behalf of RSDF, we will be announcing a parcel of land at Life Camp Abuja for Onome. In addition to that, the Foundation will also take the burden of paying Onome’s salary off Naija Ratels.”
Talking about the reason for identifying with Onome at such a time like this, Barr. Edeh added, “We are doing this for three reasons. One is to show that we have able-bodied men and women out there that can reach out and celebrate such a phenomenal woman.
“It takes courage to make such a sacrifice that Onome has made, because we live in a country that instead of seek to celebrate a legend like Onome, we vilify her.
“In addition to our commitment, Onome Ebi is one Nigerian player that hasn’t doctored her age. Otherwise, today She would’ve been 29. But instead of telling lies, she has maintained her true age right from on set.”
Earlier, Naija Ratels chairman, Mrs Alisson James-Jegede, who went down the memory lane on how she met Onome before she joined Naija Ratels, said, “One thing that struck me as I assumed office as the Chairman of Naija Ratels FC is how do we give back to girl-child in the society and I got talking with the legend Onome Ebi.
“What amazed me is her desire to return home and see how she can give back to the society. To me, it’s like a fulfilled dream. She is here not just to play for the club after rejecting other juicy offers but to offer whatever she can as a player to support the younger ones and join in their building process. It is just a matter of time, Naija Ratels will produce world stars who will dazzle beyond Africa.”
Onome, who will be wearing Jersey number 5, said she chose Naija Ratels as a veritable platform to impact and give back to Nigeria, adding, “my joining Naija Ratels is beyond playing football. It’s about inspiring young upcoming female players from the grassroots. I strongly think my story won’t be complete if I don’t accomplish the goal of giving back to the Nigerian league, which nurtured me to stardom.”
