Sports
THE Sunshine Queens head coach, Wemimo Matthew, has expressed satisfaction with the performance of her team in spite of missing out in the prestigious 2019 Nigeria Women Premier League (NWPL) Super 4.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Owena Mermaids occupied the top position in their group for some hours with 11 points after an emphatic 2-0 win against newcomers, Kaduna Queens on MatchDay 6.
She added that her side worked hard to deserve a place in the Super 4 but were edged out following a 2-2 draw played by Bayelsa Queens and Nasarawa Amazons in Yenagoa.
Reigning champions, Bayelsa queens retained the top spot in Group C with 11 points with superior goals to grab the Super 4 ticket.
Matthew said that the goalless draw her team played with Nasarawa Amazons in the MatchDay 1 in Akure actually cost them the coveted Super 4 ticket.
“Unarguably, our group is the toughest, but I think with the quality of the bench and players we should deservedly top the group.
“Three of the teams in the group; Sunshine Queens, Bayelsa Queens and Nasarawa Amazons, played in the last season’s Super 4 Championship.
“Unfortunately, we could not achieve the mark at the end of the day and naturally I’m not happy.
She said that the team had done well having come out from the tough group on the same points with the eventual winners, Bayelsa Queens and losing the top on goals difference.
Matthew said that the team fought hard on all fronts, adding that their best was not good enough to hand the team the Super 4 ticket.
“I think we lost the battle for the Super 4 ticket in our first home match against Nasarawa Amazons which ended in a goalless draw.
“If we had picked the three points each in the first match and the third match, the whole scenario would have been totally different.
“Well, that is history now and nothing can be done to rewrite history as far as the two matches are concerned, we have learnt our lessons,” said the 2019 All Africa Games goal medal winning assistant coach.
Matthew added: “In the second stanza of the league, you can see we did not lose any match that shows how resolute we were to clinch the enviable ticket.
“I think we did our best. There is nothing to add or subtract. We can only look forward with the hope of doing far better in future.
“We will be taking a well-deserved rest from the campaign consoled by the fact that they ended the 2018/19 NWPL season on high.
“We have to prepare better for the upcoming season more so, as we ended the outgoing season on high while we will take a deserved break.
“The players will be free at the moment to consider their future and seek greener pastures elsewhere, the truth remains that not all the players will be retained for next season by Sunshine Queens.”
NAN reports that Bayelsa Queens, Adamawa Queens, Confluence Queens and Rivers Angels have picked the Super 4 tickets, while Osun Babes, Invincible Angels, Dream Stars Ladies and Kaduna Queens finished at the bottom of the abridged league season.
Out of the four teams, two will survive to continue in the elite league, while the other two would drop to the lower division to join the last two teams in the Pro-League playoff. (NAN)
– Sept. 13, 2019 @ 15:35 GMT |
Tags: Sunshine Queens coach satisfied in spite missing Super 4 ticket
