Olaleye Johnson, coach of Ranieri Ladies, revealed his perspective on their recent game. Despite their loss, Coach Olaleye expressed no disappointment but instead attributed the outcome to what he perceived as biased officiating.
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He pointed out a crucial incident during the match that he believed favored the opposition. “You all saw it,” he said. “The goalkeeper fell down for more than three minutes, and the first official had to call the referee outside.
They spent more than 5 minutes talking, and after 45 minutes, three minutes additional time was added, which was not supposed to be like that. Since the game was on pause, the stopwatch was supposed to have been paused too and restarted when the game resumed.”
When asked about Dannaz Ladies, who secured promotion to the premiership, Coach Olaleye acknowledged their victory as deserved. “With the goal they scored, they deserve it,” he admitted. “My girls really pushed hard, but in football, there is hard luck. I think we had hard luck today. That is football for you.”
Despite facing low expectations before the game, Coach Olaleye credited his team’s performance to their unwavering hard work and determination. He conveyed their disappointment but expressed optimism for future editions, vowing to do even better.
When queried about the ultimate target for Ranieri Ladies, Coach Olaleye confirmed their ambition to secure promotion to the Nigeria Premier League. He also revealed that the team is planning to participate in the Lagos FA Cup to gain exposure and showcase their talents.
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Based in Mushin, Ranieri Ladies have been in existence for more than four years. Coach Olaleye commended the efforts of the Lagos DFA in organizing women’s football, emphasizing the exposure it provides for the players. He encouraged other communities to host similar tournaments to further develop women’s football.
Despite their recent loss to Dannaz Ladies, Ranieri Ladies continue to strive for success in women’s football, driven by their commitment and unwavering determination.
