Regina Okwube attributes Honey Badgers’ maiden promotion to determination

By Saheed Afolabi

Honey Badgers captain Regina Okwube is confident that her team’s promotion from the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Championship to the Premiership was achieved through unwavering determination and discipline.

The Makurdi-based side secured their place in the top flight with a decisive lone goal victory over the host team in Calabar. Okwube expressed her excitement at the Honey Badgers’ ascent to the top tier of Nigerian women’s football, attributing their success to the team’s passion and sacrifices.

“I’m super excited; it hasn’t been easy,” Okwube told nigeriafootball.ng exclusively.

“From the start, it has felt like a battle. We came with the determination to win, and we’re thrilled to have secured the promotion ticket.”

She praised her teammates for their relentless drive and commitment throughout the competitive campaign.

“Our determination and passion were crucial. Even when things didn’t always go our way, we remained focused on our goal. We sacrificed everything to achieve this, and we’re happy with the outcome.”

Okwube reflected on the lessons learned from the journey, emphasizing the importance of resilience and fighting spirit.

“One key lesson is not to give up but to keep fighting with a strong spirit. Football can be like a war, and there’s immense talent in Nigerian football. We approached this challenge with the spirit of a lioness, ready to battle anyone that came our way. With God on our side, that fighting spirit helped us conquer.”

She identified Kwara Ladies as their toughest opponent, noting the challenge they posed during the group stage.

“Kwara Ladies gave us a tough time. We lost to them in the group stage due to an early goal and a lack of luck on our side. We fought hard but couldn’t secure the win.”

Looking ahead, Okwube anticipates that the move to the NWFL Premiership will have a significant positive impact on her career.

“Joining the Premiership will greatly impact my career. We’ll be facing stronger opponents, and we are ready to compete and fight at the highest level.”