By Jacob Ajom
Former Nigeria international, Joe Erico has hailed Super Falcons goaleador, Perpetua Nkwocha who was crowned Africa’s best woman footballer of the year by the Confederation of African Football, even as he expressed reservation on the choice of Cameroun legend, Samuel Eto’o Fils as the 2010 CAF footballer of the year.

By Jacob Ajom
Reacting to the honour done the Super Falcons forward, Erico said, “Perpetua deserved the award because she has shown that she is a fantastic footballer. Nkwocha was key to Falcons’ success story in South Africa and there is no dispute as to her choice as the best from the continent.”

THE PEARL: Nigeria's Perpetua Nkwocha on the prowl

Erico who was once the Super Eagles’ goalkeeper trainer warned the Nigeria Football Federation against leaving a void when the striker eventually leaves the stage as she has hinted of imminent retirement from international duties after next year’s Women World Cup in Germany.

“I  hate to hear people say we will miss her. It is because we do not prepare for such eventualities. With proper preparation, you will know that nobody is indispensable. If Nkwocha retires, which will surely happen one day, we should be prepared to produce more than one Nkwocha,” Erico counselled.

Speaking on CAF’s decision on Eto’o as the 2010 African Footballer of the year, Erico said he would have given it to Ghanaian international, Asamoah Gyan. He had his reasons: Gyan has been consistent from the youth level, went to the Nations Cup where he propelled Ghana to the final in Angola and missed the semi final of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. I thought the young man deserved it.

This is not taking away anything from Samuel Eto’o who has achieved everything in football except the World Cup,” Erico said, pointing out that in the two tournaments Gyan excelled, Eto and Cameroun did not make any appreciable impact.