The Sun News On-line

After Super Falcons’ unimpressive outing at the just concluded Beijing Olympics in China, the team’s forward, Stella Mbachu, has called it quits with active football.
Mbachu, who played in the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1999, 2003 and 2007 and also participated in the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympics, said “it’s time to hang her boots and give the upcoming players chance to showcase their talents.”

The Tianjin Huisen of China player said the last Olympics in Beijing would remain her last Games. She, however, revealed that she would be leaving the football scene by the end of the year.

“I think it’s high time I retired from active football. Besides, one is not growing younger, I feel the best time to quit is now,” she said.

“Nigeria is blessed with too many talents, so I need to leave in order to give younger players the chance to expressed themselves in the round leather game.
“The just concluded Olympics in Beijing would remain my last outing. I will never represent Nigeria again in a championship.

“I am not quitting the scene because we were kicked out early at the Beijing Games, but I feel it’s high time I left, now that the ovation is still very loud. Besides, I don’t believe that we didn’t do well in Beijing. We gave our best, though it seemed not to be enough.

“Meanwhile,” Mbachu continued, “I see the last Olympics as the best outing the Falcons have ever had. I have played for Super Falcons at the World Cup and Olympics for so many times, and I know what the score margin used to be. But this time, there was a remarkable difference, even though we couldn’t score.

“I believe that with good preparation for the next Olympics, the world will marvelled at Falcons’ performance.

“I want to advise the players to build their confidence and remain dedicated to the national team for the sky to become their sky.”