With adequate training, Falcons will reclaim WAFCON title – Monday

Super Falcons and Costa Adeje Tenerife Women forward, Gift Monday, talks about her journey from the NWFL to the Spanish women’s topflight, her current form and her desire for growth in this interview with ABIODUN ADEWALE

This is your third season in Spain, and it’s your best already in terms of performance. What have you been doing differently?

First of all, I am playing in my primary role, which is being a striker. That is what I have not done in the last two seasons. With this position, I am more comfortable and open-minded about what I can do and what I am supposed to do at the right time. Secondly, in the last two seasons, I played under a different coach with a different formation. But this season, the coach understands the kind of player I am and the kind of game I can put up in a match. Thanks to my teammates who also made everything easy.

You won the Liga F Player of The Month Award for February. How did you feel about that?

It was not the first time I was nominated. I was nominated in December, but I didn’t win. I didn’t feel bad. The nomination alone in the Spanish League, among the best players, you know it’s from this same league that we have some of the best players, so being nominated is big and I’m so grateful for that. Winning the award meant a lot and I still don’t know how to feel about that. I wasn’t expecting to win it. When I saw the other nominees, I felt like this one was not for me. There is a Barcelona player, Caroline Hansen, I also look up to and she was among the nominees, so winning ahead of her made me speechless. I kept looking at the award, and I couldn’t believe it. For everything, I give God the glory.

You are currently on 10 goals this season. What is your ultimate target at the end of the season?

My target is not to win the Golden Boot; it’s just to help the team qualify for the Champions League. That will be a big goal for me. I don’t have a personal target; I want to win with my team and qualify for the Champions League. I want to play in the Champions League.

With this new form, how do you hope to get more game time in the Super Falcons?

As a person, all I want to do is improve and become a better player. I also want to be ready for every opportunity. Being in the team is not my decision; it’s up to the technical crew. Mine is just to prove myself, and if I get the call-up, it’s an honour and I want to be prepared for it. If I get the chance to play, I will grab it with two hands and my two legs. I hope that when the opportunity comes, I will be able to deliver.

You were an alternate player for the Paris Olympic Games and didn’t make the team, eventually. How did you shake up that disappointment and did that inspire your newly found form this season?

As a player, I know my qualities. Being among the alternate players for the Olympics and not in the final squad, I didn’t feel too good about it. But I looked at the bright side, which is the fact that many other good players didn’t even make the list. So, I took that opportunity to grow and learn from other players. When I returned to my team I saw it as another opportunity to improve. Right now, I don’t have to prove to anyone that I am a good player, but I am trying to prove to myself that I can improve every day. Even in the NWFL, I have always been in the national team and also without much playing time. It wasn’t because I wasn’t good enough, but I felt it wasn’t my time. Everybody has a time and up till now, I am still patiently waiting for my time. I know it’s going to come and that is why I have not relented in training so that when the opportunity comes, I will be fully ready. So, no bad feelings at all.

You were fondly called No. 21 by fans in Mushin. What’s the story behind that?

When I joined FC Robo, I asked for Number 11 because I liked it. But coach Emmanuel Osahon told me he wanted to give me a special number that would take me to places. He told me it was his number when he used to play football. So, when I started playing league games, we had fans who had their favourite players. So, anytime I was on the field, whether in training or matches, I kept hearing No. 21. They don’t even remember Monday Gift; it’s just 21. From there, I fell in love with the number as well.

Would you consider taking that in the national team?

I don’t have a permanent number in the national team. I hope I can get it if I become a regular. I think it’s even for the goalkeepers in the national team but I hope it’s possible.

You were the highest goal scorer in the NWFL in 2022 before moving to Spain in the same year. How did your time at FC Robo and Bayelsa Queens prepare you for what’s ahead?

FC Robo is a proper grassroots and professional team. What they do is shape players like me and many others who are now successful. That is part of my success today, and the NWFL is not a small league. It’s for the strong-minded and it’s the best in Africa. Bayelsa Queens was the best last memory I had in Nigeria. I went there and in a short period, we created this understanding and I scored in every game. That was massive. If I think about those times right now I usually feel like if I can do it in Nigeria, I can do it anywhere in the world.

How did you begin your journey from amateur to professional football?

I started playing football when I was very little but at first, I wasn’t allowed to play by my parents. My childhood began in Ajegunle, Orile and Ijora areas, but I started going to training when I was staying at Ojuelegbe. Then I was training with guys because I didn’t know any female football team. I also used to feel that if I grew up, I would be playing with guys because I thought females didn’t play football. The first time I played with females was during the Lagos 2012 National Sports Festival. It was so weird because at the screening, I saw hundreds of good players and I felt like ‘What have I been doing with my life?’ So, I represented Lagos State and was the highest goal scorer in the competition. From there, the coach of the festival team got a job with COD Ladies and took some of us along. Anytime I came back home, people would tell me about FC Robo and Asisat Oshoala and Co. The way they talked about her and the club I wanted to move, but I couldn’t because I was with COD. Along the line, COD got disbanded, so a friend of mine, Chidinma took me to FC Robo and that marked the beginning of the journey to success for me.

The WAFCON is coming up this year and the expectation is that the Super Falcons will reclaim their African crown. Before camping, how is the tournament building up in your minds?

The players are ready because we talk all the time. But it’s not about the mind alone; it’s about preparation. For me, with the right preparation and every other thing, we will be good to go to reclaim our crown.

Nigerian players have been making waves in the Spanish women’s league and there are four of you this season. What is the connection like on and off the field?

It’s always great, I remember when I first came in, Rasheedat and Oshoala helped me a lot, especially with African food. My city didn’t have an African restaurant, so anytime they came to play, they brought me some stuff and that helped me settle down. The connection is always great anytime we play with or against each other. People see us as good representatives of Nigeria and that is a lot. For Oshoala she is someone I also look up to. I love her success story and her desire to be the best. It’s something I want to emulate and there is no better way to do that than to connect with her.