By CHIMEZIE ANASO

Maureen Madu, a former Super Falcons Star and Assistant Coach, says the proposed invitational playing tour for her club, Maureen Kiddies FC Onitsha, may not come to pass because of funding challenges.

Speaking to newsmen at the club’s training ground in Nkpor, near Onitsha on Wednesday, Madu said the team could not make the trip to Denmark earlier this year for the same reason of lack of funds.

She called on the Anambra Government, corporate organisations and lovers of football across the country to assist her make the dreams of the young girls come true.

She said she had been able to secure their visa and paid part of the tickets but needed about N8 million to pay it fully, to take care of logistics, accommodation and feeding.

She said she would not like to see the team miss the trip to Morocco like they did Denmark as it promised to open up doors of opportunity for their career.

“It is a cry for help; we were supposed to go to Denmark but after all efforts we couldn’t make, so I decided to take them to Morocco.

“I have paid for the visa and also part of the ticket because the parents of most of these talented girls are poor. They depend on me and good members of the public to make their dreams come true.

“We need about N8 million to take care of the remaining bill for their ticket, their feeding and accommodation in Morocco, I am calling on government, firms and individuals to come to their aid.

“It is not about me, it is about their future because I see in them the next Super Falcons, next world champions and great people,” she said.

Madu, a five-time female World Cup veteran and two-time Olympian with over 100 caps for Super Falcons, currently runs the only ‘Ladies Only’ football academy in Anambra.

She also organises an annual summer programme called the Maureen Kiddies Camp for budding female football players in the state. (NAN)