NWFL: Ogbonda Whyte opens up on Rivers Angels’ Premiership ambitions

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Rivers Angels coach, Ogbonda Whyte has opened up on his amibition on first season with the the Nigeria Women’s Football League Premiership outfit after joining from Confluence Queens in 2023.

Whyte made his first return to Port Harcourt side where he previously served as assistant coach before leaving to handle Ibom Angels in 2017 and he is on course to reclaim the NWFL Premiership title.

The 2021 champions will need the league diadem to make a return to the West Africa Zone B (WAFU-B) Women’s Champions League Qualifiers and earn a chance to make it to the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League.

“It has not been an easy task for me here since I came back to Rivers Angels,” Whyte told Nigeriafootball.ng

“Winning is the watchword here. They expect you to get the results. So far, we have played four matches, two home and two away matches. We have won the two home matches, drew one of the away matches, and lost one.

“I think we have seven points which put us at the third position on the league table. It has been a good one so far because we are just picking up.

“With the calibre of players I have now, I am quite sure that we will be able to make it to the Super Six. The players just need the motivation which the state government has started doing. The players are well-motivated. A few days ago, the match bonuses owed the team for the past season have been cleared, and clearing that of the new matches.

“With that, the players are well motivated and know that the government is fully behind them. They know that we are all here to make money and make a name for ourselves.

“Definitely, I have the calibre of players to be able to qualify the team for the Super Six, and with the motivation coming from the Rivers States Government, we are almost there. The players can deliver to represent the state government and the country on the continent because we hope to qualify for the Super Six and from there to the Champions League.”

The Port Harcourt-based side is in a tough Group that comprises holders, Delta Queens, Bayelsa Queens, Edo Queens, FC Robo Queens, and two debutants, Remo Stars Ladies and Ekiti Queens.

Irrespective of their oppositions pedigree, Whyte is undaunted about his team’s objective for the season.

“I am not worried about any team.” He continued. “What I know is that every team in that group is eligible to qualify for the Super Six. In as much as the debutants are being tagged new teams.

“What is new is just the name. The content of the new teams are still old players from the league. There is nothing like a new team. One has to be very cautious of the opponents.

“The group we are is a group of death. Every team is working to ensure that they qualify for the Super Six. No team is a pushover. Look at the calibre of coaches the new teams have.

“Like Remo Stars Ladies have one of the best coaches in the league in Wemimo Matthew. She has been coach to various national teams and is now a CAF instructor. They have the quality in that team.”

Rivers Angels will next face Bayelsa Queens at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenegoa on Wednesday, December 13, 2023.