Africa’s pioneering female pidgin commentator, Chief Chapele Ugo, affectionately known as ‘Suo The Queen of Sports,’ discusses her sports journey, the Super Falcons, her chieftaincy title, and more in this interview with JOHNNY EDWARD.
During your upbringing as a young girl, did you participate in sports?
Certainly, I did. It was one of the activities I engaged in as a young girl. The passion for sports has always been within me. Growing up, I had 11 brothers and seven sisters, and my parents encouraged us to enjoy our weekends. I dabbled in various sports, particularly volleyball, basketball, and athletics. However, my father discouraged me from pursuing football or cycling. In fact, he once broke my bike when I attempted to learn cycling. So, I was involved in sports during my upbringing, although not at a professional level.
If your parents had supported it, in which sport do you think you would have excelled?
For me, it would have been swimming or basketball, but recently, I have developed a strong fondness for volleyball.
What is your assessment of the Super Falcons’ performance at the 2023 World Cup, and what measures should be taken to ensure better results in future tournaments?
I genuinely believe that being a Falcons player is a challenging role due to the high expectations. As nine-time champions of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, there is always the expectation for them to win, and they have done a commendable job handling that pressure. I have confidence that they will continue to improve based on their performance at the World Cup.
Falcons star Michelle Alozie posted a photo with a teammate, which some interpreted as her husband. However, she later clarified that she is attracted to men. What are your thoughts on the topic of lesbianism in our women’s national team?
I have no concerns about an individual’s sexual orientation. If they are lesbians, it is not my business. What matters is that they are in a consensual relationship and are not in any harmful situation. Michelle Alozie, for example, works as a cancer research technician at the Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center in the US. Let’s not reduce our judgment to her sexuality. This is 2023, and I believe we are moving away from such stigmatization. She recently had a remarkable run with the Falcons and brought joy to many Nigerians. Let her enjoy her life. She is a complete human being and a source of pride for Nigeria. I prefer to focus on her accomplishments rather than other aspects of her life.
Do you think coach Randy Waldrum should have his contract with the Falcons extended?
As a coach, your worth is often measured by your most recent performance. Considering Waldrum’s achievements with the Super Falcons, I believe he has done well and deserves an extension. Waldrum, who is a community coach in the US, has had a positive impact on our team. The Falcons have reemerged as a powerhouse in women’s football, thanks to their performance at the World Cup. If we are discussing the possibility of his continued tenure, it is a testament to his deserving it. He has been performing quite well.
If he remains in charge and leads the team to the Olympics, it will establish a stronger foundation for whoever succeeds him, especially since we have a promising crop of young talents coming through the ranks. Disrupting this continuity would not be in our best interest, as it would resemble poor governance.
Asisat Oshoala has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or. Do you believe she has a chance of winning it?
I believe she does have a chance, given her performance with Barcelona Femini last season. It’s also significant that we have both a Nigerian male (Victor Osimhen) and female footballer nominated for the award this time. One is a champion, and the other is a record breaker, even though there are issues surrounding Osimhen’s Italian club, Napoli, at the moment. My support goes out to Osimhen, and I hope he can resolve his situation. However, that does not diminish his qualities as a great player. As for Oshoala, I have been one of her critics, challenging her to do more, but I am proud of her achievements.
Looking at Nigeria at 63, would you say our sports have grown or regressed?
It’s evident whether our sports have progressed or not. What I can say is that there is a renewed interest, and that is thanks to the new media. This indicates that there is now an opportunity for anyone to become a superstar as long as they take the initiative and present themselves to the world. We have seen players propel themselves to stardom even without agents.
What inspires you most about your career as a sports journalist and pidgin commentator?
It’s about treading a path that few, if any, have ventured into, using various forms of expression and media to convey the narrative to one’s audience in a relatively uncharted territory. The idea that anyone with determination and resolve can follow in the footsteps of Aisha Falode, Chisom Mbonu-Ezeoke, Tega Onojaife, Jovita Eke, or Cecilia Omoregbe is truly exhilarating.
What challenges have you encountered from your early days in the field to where you are now?
Unlike many traditional career paths, there is a notable lack of learning resources, especially in local sports commentary data, so thorough research is always essential. It also requires delicate balancing to consistently find innovative ways to manage one’s personal life as a family-oriented individual while pursuing a full career in sports journalism. Having strong support both at home and in the workplace has been crucial in this regard.
How did you feel when you were bestowed with a chieftaincy title in Urhobo land in Delta State?
I felt elated and proud to become the first woman ever to receive such a chieftaincy title. This title was traditionally passed from father to son, but the current King of Udu in Delta State decided to transfer my father’s chieftaincy title to me. Both the Ovie and the Udu Kingdom of Urhobo land deemed me worthy of this honor.
