Head coach of Edo Queens FC Moses Aduku, said that Edo Queens will not be distracted by 0-1 loss to FC Robo in the finals of the second edition of Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament played yesterday evening at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Benin City.
Aduku, stated this while responding to questions from sports journalists after the match that saw FC Robo International of Lagos smile home with the prestigious trophy.
He maintained that the defeat will not make his team lose focus of their dream, adding that pre- season competitions are meant to access, prepare and evaluate a team for the league proper.
“We thank for bringing us to this level, what I want say is that today is not our day, yes accepted that my girls did not play to expectation, but we thank God for a successful pre- season tournament. We Played five matches, won 4 and lost one. It didn’t just click for us all the same we cannot blame God for it. As the head coach I’m not disappointed, I’m just one month old here, and am happy with the massive support so far.”
“Now that the competition is over, and I have watched my players play, seen our mistakes, we will go back to our drawing board to work more on those areas. In no distant time Edo Queens will get there. The expectation was so high but I assure you that Edo Queens will get there very soon. Let our fans be patient with us.”
Meanwhile in the tension soaked final match between the host team Edo Queens FC and FC Robo of Lagos, Rukayat Oladiti’s 24th-minute goal in front of a large crowd was what the girls from Lagos needed to overcome Edo Queens Football Club of Benin, to emerge champions of the highly extolled BOWFT event.
The two finalists lived up to expectation as both sides matched up with each other for every kicked ball on the pitch.
FC Robo had the first chance to register their intention of drawing the first blood with crosses from Shukurat Oladipo into the area of Edo Queens, but yellow jerseys girls were right there on time to stop Taiwo Lawal and Gift Monday from having their way in scoring early goals in the epic encounter.
Edo Queens retaliated as they initiated a counter attack only to be thwarted by a resilient Oke Maria.
FC kept building attacks and had about 8 minutes in the Edo Queens box with corner kicks, free kicks and attempts at goal in quick successions. As tension continued, the Lagos-based side’s effort yielded positive in the 24th minute, when Monday Gift played a free kick from the right flank of Edo Queens, but a poor clearance from Ajimuda Rebecca fell the ball into the foot of Rukayat Oladiti who wasted no time to lash home a low weak shot which crawled into the net beating goalkeeper, Nkiruka Obidinma.
Edo Queens came back with hard determination and made a series of attacks afterwards with Abideen Suliat, Yemisi Samuel and Chioma Olise all coming close to getting one back before half-time, but their efforts yielded no results.
Edo Queens senior manager Moses Aduku, in the 35th minute made a tactical change sending in Fajobi Yetunde, to take the place of a disappointing Eunice Goodwin – the tactics though gave some strength to the team, but still no positive results before the center referee blew his whistle calling for the end of first 45 minutes.
Edo Queens came back from second half with a much more positive mind but FC Robo remained resilient at the back – the quartet of Esther Ndubuisi, Shukurat Oladipo, Kehinde Akinwande and Chindinma Ogbuchi were strong enough to stop any attacks from the Benin based team.
Tactical Moses Aduku, made further efforts to boost his side’s attack and get one back as he threw in the likes of Alice Ogbe, Osaghae Glory and Rosemary Adesina, with FC Robo soaking all the pressure but goal for the Benin based Queens to crown their efforts. At the end of the 90th minute and three minutes additional time, FC Robo were lucky to run away with one goal victory against the new brand Edo Queens FC.
To show that Moses Aduku, coached girls are not push over,
two awards came to Edo Queens at the end of the game. Nkiruka Obidinma went home with the best goalkeeper of the tournament award, while Suliat Abideen of Edo Queens emerged as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament and was also blessed with 1 million naira.
