LAGOS – A Ugandan badminton referee, Harriet Semugabi, on Friday advocated more women participation in the administration of the sport in Africa.
Semugabi, who is attending the Lagos International Badminton Classics, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos said that the sport lacked women administrators.
”I am a member of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and I have observed that globally the sport lacked women administrators.
” Women should wake up and join in taking this sport higher; it is high time we took on the men.
”That you are a mother or wife is not supposed to be hindrance to badminton administration; it only requires planning.
”One just needs to plan her schedules well so that one duty does not affect the other,” she advised.
Semugabi also called for more female badminton coaches.
“ Sometimes, it is better when a female coaches female players.
”You know we, women, can be funny and get down emotionally at times and find it difficult confiding in an opposite sex.
”Female players will feel free to tell a female coach what her problem is; they can both find a solution to it,” she said.
Semugabi, an Uganda ex-international, said that she had been thrilled by the skills exhibited by the players.
”I want to be a bit biased and speak on the women; they have been great; I like their fighting spirits.
”They have shown that they know and love what they are doing.
”I played for my national team from 1991 to 1995, and these girls are reminding me of those days,” she said. (NAN)
