NWFL Premiership: Obi Ogbala reflects on uneasy Heartland Queens draw at Royal Queens

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Head coach of Heartland Queens, Obi Ogbala has admitted that his side endured an uneasy duel following a 0-0 draw with Royal Queens in Sapele on Wednesday.

The clash between the top-of-the-table Heartland and the bottom side proved to be a keenly contested tie and Ogbala praised his players as he is looking forward to the top-of-the-table clash with Nasarawa Amazons next week.

“Actually, everyone will expect to win both home and away. You aim to win but when it does not come you go to the plan B which is a draw,” Ogbala told Heartland Queens media after the match.

“The league is a marathon and the earlier you start to perfect yourself on the tale the better for you towards your qualification for Super Six.

“For the match, I expect to win but it went the way of a draw and we give God the glory. It was not easy. I have to give kudos to my girls and assistants. We tried to make the difference but it could not happen.

“We missed some chances but Royal Queens are not pushovers irrespective of where they are on the log. The girls are youthful trying to make names for themselves, so it was not going to be easy to win them. I wanted to win but thank God for the draw.”

Up next for the Owerri-based side is a clash against group leaders, Nasarawa, who thrashed Naija Ratels 5-0 and Ogbala will make a return to in Lafia City face his former employers 11 years later.

“Well, like I said it is a marathon. It’s a race depending on how you churn out results. Nasarawa Amazons were behind me all this while and now they have taken over. It is a mere change of baton,” he continued.

“Good a thing we are going to play them next week. We are going to put our acts right to see how it goes and if eventually we get a win Nasarawa will once again be behind us.”