Rivers Angels bounced back to winning ways in a matchday 9 fixture of the Nigeria Women Football League Premiership played at the Adokiye Amiesimaka stadium on Wednesday.
Goals from Blessing Okpe and Olamide Adugbe handed the 7-time NWFL Champions a 2- 0 win over visiting Remo Stars Ladies
Okpe picked herself up after a foul to open the scoring in the 32nd minute from the resultant freekick. The Jewels of Rivers went into the break with the one goal lead.
A rejuvenated Remo Stars Ladies came out in the second half seeking an equalizer. The real threat came in the 55th minute as Taiwo Adegoke’s shot was saved by Morufa Ademola.
However, two super subs made by Coach Whyte Ogbonda paid off in the 79th minute as Olamide Adugbe scored off a brilliant delivery from Kehinde Deborah to double the New Vision Queen’s lead.
Head Coach of Rivers Angels, Whyte Ogbonda was happy with the three points his side earned in Wednesday’s game after the team dropped points at home against FC Robo on match day 8
“I’m very happy with the win today bearing in mind that we dropped points here against Robo in our last match and the result didn’t go down well with our supporters and owners of the team. Getting three points here today, I will say that I’m very very happy.”
Speaking on the impact of the rain on the team’s style of play and how fans questioned his substitutions even though it finally paid off, Whyte said the rain may have slowed his team, but the team is based in Rivers State and they know how to handle the water when it comes. Furthermore, he dismissed the call from the fans because they don’t know the players more than the coach.
“I will say that the rain distorted the style of play that we wanted to play today, but somewhere along the line, the rain came down and we were able to get the result. Bear in mind that we are in Rivers State, we are Rivers people and we know how to go about it when it rains.”
“We don’t have to mind the fans because the fans are there to support us. When we train these players, they’re not there. We know the capabilities of the players, we know when they’re supposed to come in. At the end of the day, despite not being happy with the substitute we made, the substitution was able to produce one of the goals”
Elsewhere, sharing her delight on Wednesday’s win, Rivers Angels striker and stand in captain, Blessing Okpe expressed happiness for scoring the first goal, getting the victory after the draw against FC Robo. She also emphasized the target of the team, to keep working hard and seal the ticket to the CAF women’s champions league.
“I feel so great and so happy to lead the team and scoring the first goal against our opponents. After the 1 -1 in Ikenne, we came back home and gave ourselves the target of beating them here in Port Harcourt.”
“We never wanted to lose two straight home matches because the two home matches are an advantage to us. After we drew with Robo, we had to fight hard to win today’s match ”
“We will keep working hard, our own target this season is to qualify for CAF women’s champions league.”
Rivers Angels’ next game is against Edo Queens in Benin on February 28th .
