2023/2024 NWFL Match Day 9: Barren draw at Royal Queens not a bad result, says Heartland Queens gaffer, Ogbala

Posted : 22 February 2024

Heartland Queens football club manager, Obi Ogbala, voiced his preference for a win over the scoreless draw against Royal Queens in Wednesday's Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership Match Day 9 clash at the Sapele Township Stadium in Sapele, Delta state.

The Owerri side had beaten the Oil City side with four unanswered goals in the first fixture clash in Owerri, but in the reverse, they found the hosts impregnable as both sides shared the spoils.

Ogbala said that although the draw has seen his side drop to the second spot behind leaders Nasarawa Amazons, he insisted that it would be for a very short while.

"Actually, everyone expects to win both home and away; your aim is to win, but when it does not come, you go to plan B, which is a draw.

"The league is a marathon, and the earlier you start to perfect yourself on the table, the better for you towards your qualification for Super Six.

"For the match, I expected to win, but it went the way of a draw, and we give God the glory.

"It was not easy; I have to give kudos to my girls and assistants. We tried to make the difference, but it could not happen.

"We missed some chances, but Royal Queens are not pushovers irrespective of where they are on the log.

"The girls are youthful, trying to make names for themselves, so it was not going to be easy to win them. I wanted to win, but thank God for the draw.

"Well, like I said, it's a marathon, it's a race depending on how you churn out results.

"Nasarawa Amazons were behind me all this while, and now they have taken over; it's a mere change of the baton.

"Good a thing we are going to play them next week; we are going to put our acts right to see how it goes, and if eventually we get a win, Nasarawa will once again be behind us," said the soft-spoken gaffer.

Ogbala said he was not perturbed going to face a high-scoring side like the Lafia landladies who pummeled the Abuja-based side Naija Ratels with five unreplied goals in the next matchup.

"Well, no two matches are the same; you called them Naija Ratels, I give it to them for winning 5-0, it's a good one for them, but coming to play us will be a different ball game.

"I think with what I am going to do with my crew, we are going to fashion out a plan that would see us through," said the former manager of Nasarawa Amazons.

Ogbala, who waxed lyrical on the Super Six spot, insisted that it remains a laudable and achievable goal.

"Of course, you cannot say no; all the teams have an equal opportunity to be in the Super Six. It's remaining five matches, and as you are winning, others are winning, and as you are losing, you know, but I do not want to be drawn into the permutations.

"I still have my sight on the qualification; with more hard work, it will take us there," he summed up.

Heartland Queens are now second on the eight-team Group A log with 15 points, two adrift of leaders Nasarawa Amazons.

2023/2024 NWFL Match Day 9: Barren draw at Royal Queens not a bad result, says Heartland Queens gaffer, Ogbala

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics