Ibom Angels of Uyo coach, Edwin Okon has showered an avalanche of accolades on his ‘rookie players’ for what he described as their gallant efforts in a goalless draw with Bayelsa Queens of Yenagoa.
Although Okon’s side were the home team in the midweek south-south derby matchday two in the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), the former senior national team handler said their ability to hold a more experienced side to a barren finish was praiseworthy.
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Okon told sports247.ng after the game in Uyo: “I have to say kudos to the players of Ibom Angels, because more than nine of them have never tasted premiership. This is a different ball game altogether. It’s different from the championship.”
The vastly-experienced coach admitted that his lasses found the going tough in the early stages of Wednesday’s game, but enthused that their ability to settle down showed that they will get better results as the season progresses.
“In the first half, they were afraid of the opponents, and they were too cautious. We just had to put their mind down in the second half, and they then picked up. The truth, though, is that we were unlucky, one; and, two, inexperience played a lot of roles. But, by the time they get to their third, fourth matches, we will see better game from a lot of them,” Okon assured.
He concluded with an explanation of the chain of issues and factors that accounted for the recruitment of several rookies into the squad for Ibom Angels’ latest assault on the NWFL.
“We had to beef up the ream when we gained promotion. They are not like those who played in the Champions League, but it’s just a thing of the mind. By the time they pick up, in the next three, four matches, we’ll see what they
