Former Super Falcons player Iyabo Abade, now known as James Johnson, is appealing to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for assistance in raising N69.7 million for corrective surgery that will enable him to become a father.
Johnson, who was a member of the Falcons from 1997 to 2000, successfully underwent the first phases of a sex change operation in the United States in 2004, funded by then-Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.
The Punch reports that Johnson was born a hermaphrodite, possessing both male and female organs, and after a series of failed attempts to correct the abnormality, he was dropped from the women’s national team.
He revealed he had written to the NFF last year for financial assistance but had not received a response.
“Anytime I think that I can’t father a child yet, I feel broken, that’s why I wrote to the federation for financial assistance. The NFF president Ibrahim Gusau is a man with a listening ear and hopefully, through him, the federation can help me achieve my dream,” Johnson said.
In his letter titled “Appeal for financial assistance to enable me finalize my surgery of transforming from an intersex person (male and female organs – hermaphrodite) to a full-fledged man so that I can father a child,” Johnson explained that he needed the money for the final two phases of the surgery.
The letter, dated April 4, 2023, read, “My President, I am using this medium to passionately appeal to you for God and humanity’s sake, to use your good office to assist me financially to enable me to travel to the United States of America where I did the 1 & 2 phases of surgery (Midway Hospital Medical Centre, Los Angeles) for the surgery and treatment of the 3rd and 4th phases of my transformation to a full-fledged man so that I can father children.
“The total cost of the surgery and treatment is one hundred and sixty thousand dollars ($160,000), equivalent to sixty-nine million seven hundred and fifty thousand naira (N69,750,000).”
He further explained his situation, “I was born a hermaphrodite, i.e., both female and male organs, and was brought up as a female. I love football and played very well, which led to my selection to play for the Super Falcons in 1997. During my playing days, an issue ensued that led to a test, which confirmed that I am a hermaphrodite, 70% male and 30% female. This led to the termination of my appointment as a female player.
“The NFA (Nigeria Football Association) instructed that I should go for sex corrective surgery. The then Minister of Federal Capital Territory Mallam Nasir El-Rufai in 2004 sponsored my trip to the United States of America to undergo the sex corrective surgery.
“I was told that I would undergo four phases of surgery. The first and second phases were done, and I was invited to join the Flying Eagles in camp in 2005. I was coached by Samson Siasia, but I was dropped due to overage.
“I was able to sign up with NEPA Football Club of Abuja, from there I signed for Plateau United of Jos. I later went on to sign up with Crown Football Club of Ogbomoso in Oyo State, where I was discriminated against and humiliated.”
Johnson remains hopeful that the NFF will respond positively to his plea, enabling him to complete his transformation and fulfill his dream of fatherhood.
