Some footballers leave the game with medals and memories. Others use their experience to provide opportunities for young people who would otherwise never find a way into athletics. Former Super Falcons goalie ๐๐ฎ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ง๐๐ค๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฆ๐ is doing both.
I have known Judith for a long time. I love what she did in Nigeriaโs colours, but I’m just as fascinated by what she is developing through the ๐๐ฎ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: a place for girls to compete, to grow confidence and to chase dreams beyond their immediate environments.
Her next project will be the ๐๐ฎ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ ๐๐๐๐, slated for ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐โ๐๐ in ๐๐ง๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ, ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐. But before her own whistle rings her own story must be told.
๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ฅ๐ค๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐
Judith was part of Nigeriaโs team at the ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐งโ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ in the United States as the Super Falcons reached the quarterfinals. Nigeria were 3-0 down against Brazil on ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ when she replaced goalie Ann Chiejine in the 40th minute. The Falcons drew level at 3โ3 before Brazil prevailed 4โ3 in extra time.
Itโs still one of the most unforgettable comebacks in Nigerian womenโs football. Judith held the fort while her team mates clawed their way back into the match.
A year later, she represented Nigeria at the ๐๐ฒ๐๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ฌ, competing against some of the toughest sides in the womenโs game. Few players get to see both stages. Fewer still turn those lessons into opportunities for children to discover the game.
๐๐๐ก๐ข๐๐ฏ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ฆ
See Also European Football Blueprint: We Watch Their Leagues โ But Do We Implement The Structures That Protect Their Players? Why Donโt Our Players Have A Place At The Table?
From 2002 to 2005, she played for Clayton State University in Georgia. The institution lists her career saves at 494, shutouts at 25 and minutes in goal at about 7,100. Her efforts resulted in her inclusion at the Claytion State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2020.
The figures speak to consistency, not a single amazing afternoon.โ Goalkeeping is about being accountable while the whole stadium is watching you. It also teaches patience: by the time the critical shot arrives, preparation has already saved a match.
Our Paths Crossed in Atlanta During the FIFA Legends Honour
Former internationals, including Judith and I, were celebrated and recognised as ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ as part of the ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐๐๐๐ festivities in Atlanta, through the City of East Pointโs international football and hospitality program.
The gathering was organised by the ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง & ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฎ and brought together former internationals from Africa, the Caribbean and beyond including Trinidad and Tobagoโs World Cup veteran ๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ก๐ง, ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐โs ๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ฌ, ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ข๐๐โs ๐๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ and ๐๐ญ. ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌโ ๐๐๐ง๐ฌ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ฒ๐ง๐๐ฌ.
The program included ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐จ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ, World Cup events, international networking and media interactions. Civic leaders supporting the celebration include ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ-๐ ๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ข๐ฌ, President and CEO of the East Point Convention & Visitors Bureau; ๐๐จ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ฌ, Chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners; and former East Point Mayor ๐๐๐ญ๐ฌ๐ฒ ๐๐จ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ซ๐.
The interactions showcased and credentialed participants as FIFA Legends against the backdrop of the World Cup and hospitality surrounding matches at Atlantaโs ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐ฌ-๐๐๐ง๐ณ ๐๐ญ๐๐๐ข๐ฎ๐ฆ.
I was very happy to share that award with Judith, who I had known for years. โWe played for Nigeria at different times but football brought us together again on the international scene.
See also LAWRENCE ANINI: A vicious armed robber in the 80s, narrative so far… ๐๐ก๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐จ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ฐ๐๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐โ๐ฌ ๐ก๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ. Now on another World Cup stage they were remembering her effort.
The next chapter is brewing in Enugu.
The Enugu Opportunity: Where Young Dreams Begin Organised by the Judith Chime Foundation in collaboration with the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) and African Coaches Connect, the December championship is aimed at discovering, developing and celebrating young female footballers through organised competition.
For many girls the problem is not the absence of skill, but the absence of opportunity. Talented individuals may go unnoticed if there are no open competitions, experienced coaches and development programs.
Judith knows the gap between a childโs first kickabout and the international stage. She knew that road herself. She wants to give others an opportunity to start now.
As founder of the Greater Tomorrowโs Childrenโs Fund, I especially love initiatives that put children at the heart of significant opportunities. A football competition can accomplish more than create winners and trophies. It can unearth talent, reinforce self-belief, forge connections and open the eyes of young people to possibilities they could never have imagined.
It is only fitting that we Nigerians celebrate when our Super Falcons represent our country overseas.
We should also honour former internationals like Judith Chime who are investing in those who may follow.
Before a World Cup dream can exist, there must first be a place for a child to play. Judith once guarded Nigeriaโs goal against the best in the world. Now she is helping open a goal of another kind: opportunity for girls whose dreams have yet to be given a fair chance.
About the Author
