Coach Whyte Ogbonda of Rivers Angels says winning the the 2024 President Federation Cup on Saturday has finally broken the jinx about him as a ‘trophiless’ manager.
Ogbonda, who was excited with the win, made this known in an interview on the sidelines of his side, Rivers Angels, winning the oldest cup competition played at the iconic Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Rivers Angels were crowned 2024 President Federation Cup winners after a slim 1-0 win over Naija Ratels.
The lone goal was scored by Rivers Angels’ Blessing Okpe through a spot kick just before half-time when a Naija Ratels defender was penalised for handling the ball inside the box.
Heading to the 2024 finals, Rivers Angels FC coach, Ogbonda has appeared in two previous FA Cup finals in 2017 and 2018.
Ogbonda said that by winning the 2024 edition after missing the two previous finals, he was proud to be counted among the cup-winning managers in Nigeria.
“This is my third appearance at the finals of the women’s category of the FA Cup. First was in 2017 when I was the coach of Ibom Angels when I lost to same team I am coaching today, Rivers Angels in Jos.
”My second appearance was in 2018 in the finals in Yenagoa when I lost to the same team.
”What happened then is that we have lots of inexperienced players in the team, but who are ready to give their best.
”What changed between the previous team and this is that Rivers United have the blend of experience players and gifted players; these qualities earned us the trophy.
”We are happy with the win regardless, the penalty call was right and it is there in the public space because, Naija Ratels player handled the ball in the box,” he said.
Ogbonda also said that the President Federation Cup win would have atoned for their Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) loss in Bayelsa.
”I want to say a big thank you to the press because we have been tipped to win the cup before the match was played and this put us under more pressure.
”We need to impress and not disappoint Nigerians who have been rooting for us. The match against Naija Ratels was not an easy one, because we started with 32 teams.
”I wasn’t expecting an easy match at all, but we needed to get our hands on one trophy this season having lost the NWFL by one point in Yenagoa. So we are more determined.
”We thank the Governor of River State for his support, he told us before the finals that we should go ahead to win the cup that will change our lives.
”We have won the cup and I know that my life has changed,” he said.
The Captain of Rivers Angels, Okpe, who also won the `Most Valuable Player’ award, told NAN that the team were more concerned to win the FA Cup.
”We are more pressed to win this trophy because back home the expectations are high.
”We went to the finals with the mind not to underrate our opponent, as the coach told us that any team that survived 32 others will be tough.
”We approached the match as if we are playing against the FC Barcelona Femene; and there was tension and adrenaline before we eventually won the match,” she said. (NAN)