Flamingos coach Olowookere Bankole reveals meaning behind iconic salute celebration

Nigeria U-17 women's coach Olowookere Bankole has revealed the meaning behind Flamingos' military salute goal celebration at the U-17 Women's World Cup in India.

The Flamingos gaffer explained that the rationale behind the celebration was to create some sort of excitement in the dressing room.

He further explained that the concept was to signify a job well done anytime the team scores.

Coach Bankole disclosed this in an exclusive interview with the PUNCH.

“I know a lot of people are interested in this question and this is something I have tried to avoid telling people. The truth is you cannot give what you don’t have and I can tell you that nothing just happened without practising it. As a grassroots coach, there is a way to relate with the players because there are times these girls get homesick and so I try to create some level of excitement in the dressing room and on the training ground.

“It was out of an exciting moment during training that we came up with the idea. First, I asked them how they tend to celebrate when they scored but they all ganged up and said they won’t tell me until we get to the pitch of play. But I already knew what I wanted and that is to salute. And since they refused to tell me I told them that whenever they scored, they should run down to me and salute.

“The concept was that they will salute me for a job well done while I reciprocate and together, we all return it to the whole Nigerians who stood by us. Salute is a sign of respect, and it means we are respecting our country. That’s how the celebration came about and not because I had a military background.”

Bankole and her girls made history by becoming the first Flamingos team to win medal for Nigeria.

The team defeated Germany in the shootout in the third-place playoffs to finish as second runners-up.

WDN