Source: AfriqueJet
Mercy Akide-Udoh, 1st African Women's Footballer of the Year, to run camp for girls in Nigeria - Nigeria's Mercy Akide-Udoh, one of Africa's first stars of women football, has announced a plan to run camps for girls in high school in her country, as part of efforts to discover new talents.

Akide-Udoh, who has been coaching in the US since her retirement from active football, said the camps would be run under the programme 'Play2Learn', which is about to launch.

'I'll be trying to help young girls earn scholarships to US colleges. That's how I got my big break, and the time is right for me to look to help others to achieve their dreams,' she said in an interview with the official website of world soccer's governing body, FIFA, on Wednesday.

'Starting this summer when I go back home, I'm starting a program called Play2Learn where I will run camps for girls in high schools in Nigeria and pick those who can really play, and also have the right educational qualifications for recommendation to coaches.

'It will help fill a need for both sides as the schools need talented players, and the players get a chance to get an education while playing the game. Hopefully, with time, I can spread it to the rest of Africa,' Akide-Udoh said.

But the former member of Nigeria's senior national women's football team, the Super Falcons, said her ultimate dream is to coach the national team.

'I hope some day I can coach the national team. That's my passion. There are things we are lacking, and I want to go back and help my country with my experience playing and coaching. I still have that fire in me,' she said.

During her career, Akide-Udoh featured for Nigeria in three FIFA Women's World Cups, two Olympic Football Tournaments and won three African titles with the Super Falcons.

She was named by CAF as the first African Women's Footballer of the Year in 2002 and was appointed an Ambassador for women's football by FIFA in 2005.

She also played professionally in the US.

• Nigeria