Heartland Queens’ manager, Obi Ogbala has said his side’s dreamed first time ever Super Six ticket is intact despite matchday 12 game loss at Watersmeet side, Confluence Queens.
The Owerri mainstreams were beaten 1-2 by the Confluence City side in Wednesday’s NWFL Premiership matchday 12 game at the University Stadium in Iyamho, Auchi Edo state.
Goals from the duo, Merit Offor and Daniella Fagbenro proved decisive to hand the Lokoja-based side all the three points at stake while bullish attacker, Chinedu Chinaka scored the ineffectual academic goal for the Owerri side.
Ogbala who spoke glowingly of his wards in the setback defeat however insisted that his eyes are set on the two remaining matches on the season’s calendar for the necessary amendments.
“Well, we have two matches to go and my sight is on those two matches. I will not say my life line is on the home match, I actually want the whole six points. I know it’s not going to be easy.
“And as being said given the unfolding scenario that the tickets could go to the wire. I want to recall the talks when the draws were made, people said Group A is nothing but it looks like the reverse is the case. Between the groups, you can see that Group A is proving more harder with the close markings and unpredictability.
“Like I will tell anyone who wants to know we are working towards achieving our goal of qualifying for Super Six be it against Naija Ratels, be it in our last match at Dannaz Ladies, our eyes are set on Super Six ticket. We are going to work hard to see how we actualise our dreams.
“No one goes to a contest with the minds to lose. From the onset, we agreed to achieve something for ourselves in Iyamho, Auchi, Edo state the home ground of Kogi Confluence Queens.
“We wanted to win, or worst case scenario, we pick a point which we were almost coasting home before the sudden winning goal. Our sights are being set on the future, so it was not that bad, I have taken it in good faith. After all, I have won a team outside, that’s football, we keep learning, pushing and making corrections to make sure we come out the best.
“You know if you work hard the result will tell, we really worked hard but we didn’t get the result.
“The players were not 100% there in the first half but after the break pep talk, they impressed, they tried their best, they proved a point, they wanted to win, they did exactly all we wanted them to do, they took the ball to the opponents but again against a team who wanted win to boost its Super Six ticket chances,” said the soft-spoken Nasarawa Amazons’ gaffer.
Despite the defeat, the Owerri landladies are still on top of the eight-team Group A log on 21 points same as close and newest challengers, Confluence Queens at least for the next 24 hours pending the outcome of the clash between hosts, Abia Angels and Nasarawa Amazons in Aba on Thursday.
The Owerri side will next play host to the Abuja-based side, Naija Ratels for the NWFL Premiership matchday 13 on Wednesday, April 17 at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri.
