Don't just Dream and keep complaining about your gender or background challenges; work for what you believe in and be ready to take the slightest opportunity to achieve greatness in life - The Story of Francisca Ordega
From a ball girl in Benue State to a professional footballer at Washington Spirit, Nigerian Francisca Ordega's phenomenal football carrer is a classic story of grass to grace.
To think of a perfect example of the saying that “dreams do come true, through hard work” and here is someone to behold, Francisca Ordega; a role model and inspiration to women who want to live their dream against all odds.
Raised in a ttropical Gboko village in Benue State Nigetia, Ordega stood for what she believed in and was sheer optimistic despite environmental and parental challenges.
According to her “optimism is the faith that leads to achievement and Success is getting what you want…I always tell people I never dreamed of the success I worked for it,” said the Super Falcon in her story.
Every glory has a backup story and that of Ordega can be traced to her being among the people chose to supply balls for the Women’s National team in a match hosted by the governor of her state, Benue. That single opportunity served as a stepping stone for the footballer who was inspired by the team’s ability to soar in a ‘field’ conventionally believed by the society to be ‘men’s area of specialty.’
According to Ordega the big decision to become a professional footballer was taken in field on that very day.
Fast forward a few years later and today ‘That Gboko ball girl’ now has her surname boldly written at the back of her jersey accompanied with the number ’12’ at Atletico Madrid.
Furthermore, into her story, Ordega narrated with clearer pictures how she was discouraged by her mother from playing football because momma Ordega wasn’t a sports lover and insisted her beautiful daughter should acquire education in school. She presented the situation with a voice that exuded honesty and calm while giving credit to her father who is ‘the right man for her’ with his sheer supports and encouragements.
Ordega’s hard work and dedication to the beautiful game earned her a place in the national team as she was called up for the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup (women’s football tournament) in Trinidad and Tobago and that was when her mother started ‘believing in her’ she nodded continuously while explaining this part.
The Super Falcons forward lamented on the conventional challenge faced by the girl-child who are professional football aspirants, which she had to face in her own home and among neighbours who tried to advice her mother against her football dreams.
"Football is seen as a boys thing in Africa and Nigeria where I come from. Indeed, for you to play and develop in the game, you have no choice but to play most-times among boys in your neighborhood. You are seen as a none conventional girl 'a tom boy' and wayward girl in your community. Francesca explained.
At this point, it felt like she has gotten to the end of the tunnel where the light shone so bright as the Washington Spirit player boasted of being able to change the perception of the people towards women in football, at least in her hometown of Gboko.
The same people that never supported her football dreams and career now queue up for her autographs like they line up in an ATM machine during the holiday period; you can only but imagine the length of the queue.
Francisca Ordega is a forward thinker just like her position in the beautiful game. The self-driven footballer shares in the school of thought that say, you can be and achieve anything in this world even without the support of your parents. A theory she has proved on her football journey so far!
