Amusan who won gold and broke records in 100m hurdles at this year’s World Championship and Commonwealth Games was among outstanding Nigerian sports men and women that were honoured for various categories of the Sheroes awards.

Edo State First Lady Mrs Betsy Obaseki picked up Sheroes Trailblazer of the year award.

Board member of the Nigeria Football Federation, Rt. Hon. Margaret Icheen earned the Sheroes Lifetime Achievement award while Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Mrs Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe bagged Sheroes Capital Achievement award.

Nigeria U17 women’s Manager, Bankole Olowookere was presented with the Sheroes Sports Icon of the year.

Coach Olowokere led the Flamingoes who recently beat all odds to win bronze at the just concluded FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, a feat that Nigeria was unable to attain in the past at the competition.

Other awardees were Super Falcons player Monday Gift (Sheroes Women Football Rising Star of the year), Coach Emmanuel Osahon (Sheroes Women Football Talent Developer of the year, Ruqayyah Adeboye (Sheroes Humanitarian of the year), Nelly Orisakwe (Sheroes Women Football Grassroots Coach of the year) and Ayisat Yusuf-Aromire (Sheroes Girl-Child Advocate of the year).

There was also posthumous award for late Alhaji Tewogboye Oyewole as Sheroes Pioneer of Women’s Football in Nigeria.

Of the 36 states in Nigeria, Lagos State Football Association was decorated as Sheroes Most Outstanding Women’s Football Development FA of the year.

The shirt which is once again manufactured for the second time by leading sportswear Company ‘Haggai’ sees the ‘Ratels’ traditional yellow and green colour revamped and refreshed.

The 2021 season will be the second consecutive season the team will take to the field in their yellow and green classic colour. In an age where all manner of flashes and piping are added to kits, it’s refreshing to see ‘Haggai’ take a straight approach to the home kit with the green colour shed to the arm and neck, while the away kits looks unique, with the green colour dominating.

The Abuja based side lastest away kits features a stylish V-neck, been inspired by a yellow mosaic pattern, placed on the sides of the green jersey with the look completed by green shorts and black blue socks.

The tracksuits and players outing wear also comes with a new form of touch. The tracksuits collaboration is a colourful range of lemon and black, while the team’s outwear was blended with various colours to make it awesome.

Naija Ratels sister’s club ‘Honey Badgers’ also revealed their home and away kits, manufactured by ‘Haggai’ as they prepare for the NWFL Nationwide season, which kick start on the 11th of April in Abuja. The Makurdi based side collection balances a classic home identity with an adventurous eye-catching away kit.

Their new home kit design stays loyal to tradition, taking inspiration from one of the major colours of Benue State, ‘Black and White’s. While the away kit remain simple and unique with it’s light green colour.

“We wanted to give Naija Ratels a design that only them can wear and not any other team around the globe,” Haggai Sporstwear C.E.O, Paul Maduakor.

“There is a great feeling surrounding the team and it has the potential of becoming one of the biggest clubs in the world. We have a good relationship with the team and it is absolutely normal to capture all that vibrancy and try some new things.” He Concluded.

Meanwhile, the President of the club, Barrister Paul Edeh said Naija Ratels and their sister’s club Honey Badgers have enjoyed a great relationship with Haggai Sporstwear since the club came to existence, describing the Sportswear outfit as one of the best in Africa.

“We chose Haggai to kit us for some obvious reasons. First, it is a Nigerian Brand which has remained true to its commitment to sports development by providing its unique brand to the General public. When I shared my vision with the Chairman of Haggai Sports, he understood exactly the kind of brand I wanted to build and he went all out to give us beyond what we expected. Again, Haggai brand has continued to support us since we started, hence it wasn’t difficult for us to sign the clothing deal with the Company.”

“One of the reasons we chose green as our colour in Naija Ratels is because it represents our vision of building a club that is everywhere. Green is everywhere. It’s the most common colour in the natural world, and it’s second only to blue as the most common favorite colour. It’s the colour we associate with money, the environment, and it’s the colour of revitalization and rebirth. More importantly, it is our National Colour in Nigeria.

“Meanwhile, the Yellow Colour symbolises the sun which brings light to the world, signifying happiness, youthfulness, hope and fearlessness in line with our vision to make these young ladies the light of the world and unlock their hidden potentials. As we climb the ladder of time, Naija Ratels will surely be the shinning light in women football world over.”

Alongside the central design details, the 2021 shirts by ‘Haggai’ Sportswear has a truly unique feature, which includes the latest performance technologies which allow players to be more comfortable on the field of play. The new ‘Naija Ratels’ and ‘Honey Badgers’ jerseys are also made up of fabrics and special stichings which provides greater movement and comfort without sacrificing flexibility and resilience.

NWFL Championship side, Naija Ratels FC on Saturday at the Agege Township Stadium, Lagos concluded a 5 day Open Screening Exercise themed ‘Find Your Way To Naija Ratels’ which is aimed at discovering young and technically gifted players.

The screening exercise which is part of the NWFL Championship side’s effort to fortify the team ahead of the new season, had players from the nooks and crannies of Lagos State and it’s environs in attendance.

Speaking during the final day screening exercise, the Chairman of the Club Barrister Paul Edeh described the exercise as largely successful with the climax being the friendly match between some of the newly discovered talented players and the Lagos State women National Sports Festival team and three other teams.

” Truly, I am satisfied with what I saw today as these young girls played their hearts out to seek for a shirt in Naija Ratels. At Naija Ratels, our dream is to ensure that this young players achieve their dreams through sports and education.

” We shall continue to give them that platform to excel and pursue their dreams. Talent is something that cannot be hidden and I am satisfied with what I have seen here today.”

“Our focus for 2021 is to continue to scout for young talents at the grassroots and support club owners who have continued to feed the bigger clubs in the league with great talents.”

“Today, we are donating these few balls with the 4 teams that played with us and we pledge to always stand with you as much as we can.” He concluded.

The Abuja based legal luminary also thanked Lagos State F.A Member and Chairman Technical Committee, Mr Dotun Coker for finding out time to grace the event. Mr Coker who fell in love with the initiative heaped encomiums and expressed delight over what he called ‘special’.

“I would love to express the fact that Naija Ratels is fast becoming a household name in women’s football and I will urge Barrister Paul Edeh to keep doing what he is doing. I am indeed impressed with what I have seen so far and I hope we will have more Naija Ratels programmes in Lagos.

Finally, the Head Coach of Naija Ratels FC Bankole Oloowokere experessed satisfaction over the exercise and told the Media that over 50 players made the screening exercise which started at the Alade Stadium, before finally rounding up at the Agege Township Stadium.

” As a team, we know what we want and I can boldly say we have gotten that. The screening exercise is an effort for Naija Ratels to discover, nurture and groom talents that will become great in the nearest future.

“We believe in the younger ones and I want to commend Barrister Paul Edeh for his vision and capabilities to make things happen. He is certainly a man who uses his visionary and intellectual capacity to turn things around.

” We are fully prepared for the NWFL Premiership and look forward to a favourable outing.” He concluded.

Naija Ratels played four matches, won one, drew one and lost two. The team was made up of the newly recruited players. Goalless draw against S.D.H, 3-0 loss to team Lagos, won 3-2 against Victory Queens and lost 3-1 to Lakeside Queens.

Two wins in two games ensured that Naija Ratels got qualification to the next round of the biggest Pre-season Championship in Africa.

An elated but modest Oloowokere was thrilled that his players came all out to play as a team against a very strong side and ended up getting a great result.

” I am excited about this victory, but surely not carried away, because we are still a team trying to find our feet.

” The impressive game from the girls got alot of people talking , but it has to do with alot of hardwork we have put in place in the last few weeks.

” We play Edo Queens on thursday in our last group game and we hope to keep up with the same winning mentality. He concluded.