Top Coaches in the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership have heaped praises on the Organisers of the upcoming Women Football Pre-season Championship, the Flying Officers Cup.
The Pre-season Championship will see mine teams from the top tier league NWFL-Premiership lock horns with teams from the lower tier league and top tier teams from outside country.
Managers of the teams sees the tournament as a good way for their various teams to prepare hard at the highest level, ahead of the beginning of the Premiership season.
Speaking to the media, The Head Coach and owner of the AITEO Cup finalists, FC Robo Queens of Lagos, Osahon Emmanuel, showered the organizer – Barrister Paul Edeh and Ratels Sports Development Foundation – with praises for being consistent with the Pre-season Championship.
“We are working towards competing against some of the best teams in Nigeria and Africa. This is a while new idea from what we used to have in the past. Kudos to the Organisers as we look forward to having a great tournament.’, he said.
Making their debut is Sunshine Queens FC who are much excited with their Manager, Tayo Onilude hoping to have a great outing.
“We have been working hard everyday to get the players in shape and against all odds and will be giving our best in Abuja. The good thing is that we would be playing against some solid teams and perhaps we would be using different formations and tactics to execute our games, until we get it right.”- Tayo told media.
Also making their first appearance is Osun Babes, having missed out of the last two editions, Head Coach of the side Olayinka Adunola said she is optimistic and refused to be underdogs.
“No doubt, we have always wanted to participate in the tournament, but I’m glad that we can this time around. We know the standard of the tourney and understand that we have to be at our best to keep the momentum going until the league starts. We want to have fun on the pitch, at the same time, try some new players and improve as a team everyday. The Flying Officers Cup offers us the platform to do that.” She Concluded.
Bayelsa Queens Head Coach, Moses Aduku said his team will use the tournament to test new players and strategized ahead of the new season, as he described the tournament as ‘just a Pre-season Championship’.
So much is expected of the AITEO Cup Champions but Aduku says no pressure will be put on his side when they kickstart in Abuja.
“Every Coach wants to win something and add more silverware to the ones they already have in their cabinet. We are going to be ourselves, improve in every game and test the quality that we have and definitely won’t put too much pressure on ourselves. I am impressed with the standard of the Competition and no doubt, it is the best.”
For Bankole Olowookere, his team Naija Ratels surpassed so many people’s imagination, by reaching the Semi-final of the 2020 edition. His team, then in the NWFL Nationwide, went on to beat teams like Royal Queens, Kaduna Queens and played draws with Edo Queens and Nasarawa Amazons in the third place and Semi-Final games respectively, now in the Premiership, Olowookeere thinks his team will compete better.
“We did well last year and hopefully, we can do more and play better. The team will continue to improve on its style of play and that is the most important thing for us.” – Olowookeere
Nasarawa Amazons Head Coach, Christopher Danjuma, whose team participated in the last two editions of the Flying Officers Cup said the tournament has always helped and given his team a clue of what to expect, when the league starts.
According to the Nigeria U-20 Women National team coach, the competition offers his team the opportunity to be more compact by playing against top teams in a very competitive atmosphere.
“It has always been a perfect way to start the season. The Flying Officers Cup, has become a tradition for Nasarawa Amazons. We were at the last two editions and got to the finals, losing to Edo Queens and Bayelsa Queens respectively. It gives us the chance to get better as a team and that’s one thing that has really been helping us.” He Concluded.
The competition will kickoff from the 10th to the 24th of October 2021, in Abuja, Nigeria.
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