Nigerian hermaphrodite cries out over her status

An Ibom Angels soccer player, Bessy Ekaete Boniface, has cried for help over her status as a hermaphrodite.

Ekaete, an Akwa- Ibom State born footballer was formerly Delta Queens’ player before she was thrown out of the Fal­conets camp prior to the Chile 2008 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup when the coaches discovered they had a player that could not pass for a complete woman.

Speaking with the Sun newspaper, Ekaete recalled how she was duped in 2010 by those who pretended to be raising funds for her to have a corrective surgery oversees and called on the First Lady of her state of origin for help.

She said, “I have been going through a traumatic time and it has not been easy coping with the situation. Through the help of some people, I have tried severally to see if I can get the attention of my state government. This has not been successful. The last effort I made, I was advised to write a letter and send it via DHL to the governors office.

“When I inquired about the procedure, I was told that to send a letter through DHL will cost N10,000, which I could not afford.

“As the breadwinner of my family, it has been tough making ends meet. Throughout last year I did not play with my Club Ibom Angels because of the injury I sustained.

Recall that in the 2007 women’s league season, the hermaphrodite scored a total of 12 goals for Delta Queens – seven in the League, three in the Challenge Cup and two in the Super Four.

Continuing, the footballer born with both male and female sex organs said, “My wish is to get married and raise a family of my own but I cannot have it because of this situation. I don’t have any boyfriend. I long to have a relationship with men but I cannot because of this issue.

“It is a very embarrassing one. How do you explain to a man that you have both organs, which man will stand such a situation?

“However, I believe that God will not let me waste away like this. I believe that Nigerians will listen to my case and plea and come to my assistance. I pray that God will touch their hearts to come to my rescue.

“Who do I run to, where will my help come from?

“Doctors have told me that I’m 85 per cent woman. I need the help of Nigerians to come out of my nasty condition, I plead with them to help me raise some money for an operation to correct my condition,” the hermaphrodite cried out.

FIFA defines you as female for the purposes of competition if you're menstruating, even if you have ambiguous genitalia. That's still a problematic definition.

Gbenga Omole, who runs an organization called Goldenwing33 Nigeria Limited that uses sports to keep kids from turning to organized crime, has begun an effort to raise the ₦2 millionNaira ($13,514 USD) for the surgery.

When Omole announced that he'd set up an account at a local Nigerian bank group for Ekaete, he stated, "Please help this great future Falcon that will bring honour to this country, joy to many homes and pride to those who will help her today. 

"Can't wait to see her back like Kanu Nwankwo did stronger and better. We urge Nigerians to come to her assistance and save a fledgling career".