Heartland Queens players eye top prize ahead of NWFL Premiership opener

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

After a historic 2023/2024 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership season where Heartland Queens qualified for the Super Six Playoffs for the first time in the team history, the Imo based club hopes to improve on the recent form.

Having a hand in the league title direction after draws with Champions, Edo Queens and runners up, Rivers Angels put the team in good stead ahead of the 2024/2025 league opener against Ekiti Queens in Ado Ekiti.

The Owerri side’s new signings and staylites have expressed their readiness to make an impact on the pitch.

Defensive midfielder, Mary Popoola who recently joined from Sunshine Queens is eager to contribute her quota to the team’s ambition. Speaking to the club’s media department, she said:

“I’m quite aware that Heartland Queens made it to the NWFL Super Six last year, and I’m here to help the team achieve that mileage again this season. I want to experience the tournament and bring my best to the squad,” she enthused.

Sensational defender, Prisca Nwachukwu, a product of Imo Striker Queens and a standout performer for Nigeria’s U-17 national team, the Flamingos, is equally determined to shore up the team’s backline.

“I will work hard in the defense line, and by the grace of God produce the best results. Clean sheets might be difficult to predict but we will give it our all and hope for the best,” she affirmed.

And the side’s emergent first choice goalie, Amarachi Atulayo believes that her team are ripe for the podium this time around.

“We took our performance last season to the NWFL Super Six, our maiden and best record as a team. This time around we want to up our game to the podium and Africa is the main target.

“I believe we have all it takes to achieve the landmark with the qualities in the playing rosters and the coaching crew ably led by coach Obi Ogbala. I’m positive we will achieve our best performance in this year’s league season,” said the amiable shot stopper.

Captain, Chimebere Opara shares the optimisms of her teammates insisting that this year’s league season will produce fruits for the Owerri mainstreams.

“Of course, we are more determined this time around than ever to contest for the podium after our superlative performance last season.

“We cannot aim anything less than a podium dance finish, we have the material, players, coaches and support of our amiable governor and commissioner to aim for the highest height,” said the petite marks woman.

Heartland Queens’ opener against Ekiti Queens is expected to be a thrilling encounter as the team look to make an early statement of intent.

Heartland Queens finished fifth out of the six teams at the end of the 2023/2024 NWFL Premiership Super Six in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State capital.

Ekiti Queens on the other hand escaped relegation from Group B with 14 point, a point above relegated Sunshine Queens.