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Confluence Queens coach Whyte Ogbonda picks positives from fourth-place finish
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Confluence Queen’s coach Whyte Ogbonda opined that his team were not bookmakers’ favourites to make it to the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership Super Six.
The former Ibom Angels gaffer led the Lokoja-based side to qualify for the season-ending and title-deciding NWFL Premiership Super Six with a third-place finish at the end of the regular season from Group B alongside Edo Queens and FC Robo Queens.
Confluence had a 3-1 loss to Delta Queens and stunned Edo Queens 1-0 to make it to the third place where it lost 2-0 to 2021/2022 champions, Rivers Angels.
Adaobi Okah and Oghenebrume Ikekhua scored two goals in the second half to seal a 2-0 win for the Jewel of Port Harcourt, a result Whyte wasn’t disappointed with.
“The game had come and gone. Unfortunately, we lost. I want to give kudos to Confluence Queens because we were not among the bookmarkers’ favourites,” Whyte told journalists.
“The target of the team in the first place is to escape relegation. At the end of the day, we were able to qualify for the Super Six and ended the season in fourth position.
“The plan for next season is to go back home and fortify the team. I came a week before the start of the season. I must give the players kudos for doing well. We would go back home and correct the areas where we found out there were lapses.
“I wouldn’t say that I am disappointed because, in the game of football, one team must win. The quality Rivers Angels have, I don’t have it. If I had the same quality with them then I would say that I am disappointed. We actually wanted to win the third-place match but we’re unable to do that today.”
For the second time, the Lokoja-based side under the tutelage of Whyte faltered to Edwin Okon’s Rivers Angels in a deciding match.
In the final of the 2019/2020 NWFL Premiership Super Four, the Port Harcourt-based side edged Confluence Queens 1-0 to lift the title. The same feat was repeated at Super Six in Asaba as Rivers Angels secured a 2-0 win against Confluence Queens on Sunday.
Confluence Queens will hope to bounce back next season with the hope of returning to the Super Six with a better performance.
