RIVERS ANGELS CALL ON FANS TO TURN UP AS THEY TACKLE DELTA IN NWPL

Players and officials of six-time Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) champions, Rivers Angels, have called on the club’s supporters to come out in their numbers as they play host to Delta Queens in the last group game of the season at the Yakubu Gowon stadium, on Wednesday.

The Jewel of Rivers are currently top of Group A with 10 points and need a win to secure a spot in this season’s NWFL Super 4.

Team Captain, Charity John made a direct appeal to the fans to show up, not only to watch the beautiful game of football, but add vociferous support to the Angels’ quest.

John, while calling on the fans, was equally optimistic that the Jewel of Rivers would nick all the three points on offer on Wednesday.

“In order for us to qualify for the Super 4, our expectation as a team is nothing short of victory,” John said.

“We’ve always made the good people of Rivers State proud and will keep doing it. Since this is our last game of the season, we are appealing to our fans to come out and cheer us to victory,” she added.

Team manager of Rivers Angels, Matilda Oyiloha Micheal, added that Wednesday’s game is a very crucial one and the team needs all the support they can get from the fans.

“The tension is very high as it stands right now because all the teams in the group are working on their different strategies to ensure qualification,” Oyiloha said.

Rivers Angels

“As a team we are very focused, and we promise not to let anyone down come Wednesday.

“But having our fans out there with us will be an added advantage to us as the hosts.

“I equally want to assure the fans that they won’t be disappointed as they make it to the stadium,” she concluded.

Meanwhile Wednesday’s Matchday 6 battle with Delta Queens has been declared open to all as no gate fees will be charged.

Kick-off time is 4pm.

Winners Cup: Rivers Angels, Nasarawa Amazons Light Up Abuja

Federation Cup winners Rivers Angels will take on Nasarawa Amazons in the Winners Cup match of the Nigeria Women Football League at the FIFA Goal Project, National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday.

A statement from the secretariat of the NWFL and signed by the Executive Secretary, Mr. Ayo Abdulrahaman clarified that the match, earlier scheduled for Wednesday, 18th January 2017 had been moved to Saturday, 21st January, to start at 3pm on that day.

The Winners Cup is the women’s version of the NPFL’s Super 4 mini-tournament, and is the official season –closing event of the Women’s League.

Rivers Angels

Rivers Angels FC is regarded as perhaps the strongest women football club in the land, though the girls from Lafia can never be pushovers for any team. Both teams regularly supply players to all categories of the National Teams, from the U17 to the senior team, Super Falcons.

RIVERS ANGELS START NEW NWFL SEASON ON A HIGH

Amaechi Ojini scored on her debut as Defending champions of the Nigeria Women Football League, Rivers Angels opened their season campaign with a 4-1 thumping of Martins White Doves at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin.

The former Kogi Confluence forward came off the bench to send in a rebound from close range after goalkeeper Obia Christiana parried away a shot from Mercy Amanze in the 90th minute.

The sizzling champions had taken the lead in the 6th minute through central defender, Osinachi Ohale who blasted from 20 yards beyond the reach of goalkeeper Obia.

Martins White Doves FC

Amarachi Ojinma doubled the lead in the 18th minute from a Mercy Amanze cross inside the 18 yard box.

The Port Harcourt side continued to dominate play until the 22nd minute when Cynthia Aku sent in a rebound from a Glory Iroka’s shot that hit the cross bar but it was ruled off by the center referee.

However in the 27th minute, Afodia John capitalised on Osinachi Ohale’s error from the midfield to make the tally 2-1.

It didn’t stop there as Rivers Angels continued to haunt the defense of their opponent in the second half and 17 minutes later Mercy Amanze raised the tally to 3-1.

Amarachi Ojinma scored in the 77th minute from a superb cross by Ugo Njoku from a set piece outside the box but was this time denied by the assistant referee.

Ojini however sealed things for the league champions to hand them a well deserved victory.

Technical Adviser of Rivers Angels, Edwin Okon is a happy man

“It’s the first match of the season and is as important as the finals of the league, so you just have to try as much as you can to win your first match”

“So winning away from home is a plus for us and I think am happy as a coach and the team is equally happy” said an excited Okon.

Coach of Martins White Doves, Gladys Nwagbara said her team played against a better side.

“I believe we played against a good side. Rivers Angels is one of the best female teams in Nigeria”.

“That we lost the game doesn’t mean that we cannot win our next game so we’re going back to make sure we come out with something in our next game” she said.

RIVERS ANGELS

In other NWFL centers

GROUP A

TOKAS QUEENS 0-1 EDO QUEENS

BAYELSA QUEENS 3-1 COD LADIES

NASARAWA AMAZONS 3-0 ABIA ANGELS

OSUN BABES 2-0 PELICAN STARS

GROUP B

MARTINS WHITE DOVES 1-4 RIVERS ANGELS

CAPITAL CITY DOVES 1-0 TARABA QUEENS

SUNSHINE QUEENS 1-1 CONFLUENCE QUEENS

FC ROBO 2-2 DELTA QUEENS

Jessica Amadi

“NFF PLEASE SAVE NIGERIA FOOTBALL” CRYS RIVERS ANGELS TEAM MANAGER MATILDA OYILOHA

Team manager of Nigeria Women Football League champions, Rivers Angels, Mrs Matilda Oyiloha has described the Annual General Congress of the NWFL held last Friday as a congress marred with too many irregularities.

The Congress had on Friday smuggled in four relegated teams, namely; FC Robo, Martins White Doves, Pelican Stars and Taraba Queens back to the NWFL for this season’s campaign which is expected to kick-off on the 21st of May.

Matilda who was present at the congress revealed how these clubs were promoted back to the women premier league

“The first mistake was made when Pelican Stars was brought back into the league after the rules had it that teams that fail to honor up to 3 league games will be automatically relegated”

Team manager Rivers Angels, Matilda Oyiloha

“Pelican failed to honor more than 3 games last season and they still went ahead to bring them including Taraba Queens that had similar case with them”

“When we started the congress proper, a projector was set and Fourteen teams were on the list for draws to be conducted but the other two teams, Martins White Doves and FC Robo had to demand that they be brought back since there was no relegation”

“Before we knew it, everyone was asked to add both teams” Matilda narrated.

Following the scenario that led to the relegation of Pelican Stars and Taraba Queens, Matilda questioned the possibility of these teams executing their games this season

“What are we even crying for when we keep doing the wrong thing? Three seasons now, no relegation; What is the point shouting the league is dying? What are we showcasing to the world? How can sponsors be attracted to the league? And what is the guaranty that these teams can even register let alone executing the league? A disappointed team manager asked.

Rivers Angels

She however called on the Nigeria Football Federation to come and salvage the Women Football League.

“NFF please save Nigeria football. Give us an independent body, when you go out there, there’re quality consultants and good companies that can come to the aid of women football”

“Even if is for one season or two, once the league has been stabilized, you can now come back to say come and continue”

We want them to come in and re-brand our league” she said.

RIVERS ANGELS CAPTAIN, LUCKY ATU CALLS IT QUITS WITH PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL

Goalkeeper and Captain of Nigeria Women Football League Champions, Rivers Angels, Lucky Atu has drawn the curtains on her illustrious professional football career.

Atu who was captain of the NWFL champions from 2008-2016 won two league titles and five Federation cup titles one of which was in 2008, when the former State Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi rewarded players and officials with cars.

The Delta born keeper in a chat with the club’s media officer, Jessica Amadi said her playing time was a memorable one.

“In the game of football, there has to be a day you’ll stop, so I think this is my time to call it quit”

“In my playing career with this club, I have won a good number of laurels of which we were rewarded with cars by the former governor of the state” she said.

Subsequently, Lucky Atu has been drafted into the coaching crew of the NWFL reigning champions as assistant goalkeeper trainer by the club’s management.

RIVERS ANGELS CAPTAIN LUCKY ATU

A post she is thrilled with. “Now that I have retired from being a goalkeeper to being an assistant goalkeeper trainer, I am very happy and ok with the position” she told the club’s media team.

Meanwhile, first choice goalkeeper of the team, Charity John has been named as the new captain with Glory Iroka as her assistant.