“Rewarding Excellence: Tinubu’s Support Will Inspire A New Generation Of Sports Legends – Avre”

Ex-footballer praises president’s renewed focus on athlete recognition.

Patience Avre Odeli, a former attacker for the Super Falcons of Nigeria and now based in the United States, has expressed admiration for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reward policy, stating that it has the potential to consistently produce more sporting champions for the country.

According to iReporter Online, Avre said she was especially impressed by the warm reception and recognition given to the Super Falcons and D’Tigress teams after their victories at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco and the Afrobasketball Championship in Côte d’Ivoire, respectively.

“I doff my hat for our sports-loving President and his beautiful wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for honouring and appreciating both teams,” she said. “Such consistent gestures of recognition will inspire current and future athletes to aim for global excellence.”

Avre, who was part of the generation that qualified for the quarterfinals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and represented Nigeria at the Olympic Games, lamented that her era received little to no recognition from past administrations.

According to iReporter Online, she emphasized that many of her teammates gave their all for the nation but were left with nothing tangible to show for their efforts.

“Some of us laboured for nothing,” she lamented. “We have teammates who passed away without any form of honour, while others are struggling with injuries or mental exhaustion brought on by years of national service with no support or reward.”

In a heartfelt plea, Avre called on President Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu to consider appreciating past Super Falcons players who helped establish Nigeria’s dominance in African women’s football.

“It’s painful that we have nothing to show for winning nine African championships before the latest one in Morocco,” she said.

According to iReporter Online, Avre disclosed that she and others are already working through the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, to reach the presidency with this appeal.

She commended Dikko’s leadership, describing him as “credible and committed” to giving Nigerian sports a new face.

She concluded by saying President Tinubu’s appointments are a sign of “a new dawn” for Nigerian sports and expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support she has received from fellow ex-internationals like Martha Tarhemba, Prisca Emeafu, Kikelomo Ajayi, Judith Chime Kamala, Rachel Asabor, Stella Mbachu, Ayi, and Precious Dede.

”IREPORTER REPORTS”