By Faith Oluchi
The General Manager of Rivers Angels, Maltida Otuene has described Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike as a gender-friendly governor for his prompt and consistent support to the Nigerian women’s league champions.
Otuene disclosed this after her team defeated Togolese side Amis du Monde 5-1 in their semi-final clash of the ongoing Caf Women’s Champions League WAFU-B zonal qualifiers in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
With the triumph guaranteeing Rivers Angels qualification to Egypt 2021 this November, the General Manager attributed the regional success to the full support of the governor, the Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Boma Iyaye and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports Sir Honour Sirawoo.
“I want to thank our governor, our number one sponsor, our number one supporter for his fatherly love, encouragement, and financial support, I want to thank the honorable Commissioner for Sports and Permanent Secretary for their amazing supports.”
She further hailed the players and officials of the team for putting on displays of never-say-never Nigerian spirit in qualifying for the WAFU-B final and also landing one of the qualification tickets to the maiden Caf Women’s Champions League.
“I want to say a big thank you to all the players, coaching crew, supporters, medical crew for your die-hard attitude in Abidjan, thank you for bringing out the true spirit of champions that you are. Congratulations to everyone for getting the ticket to Egypt,” Otuene added.
In the same vein, Mrs. Otuene thanked the President of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr Amaju Pinnick for his great encouragement through the head of the delegation, Alhaji Babagana Kalli, who has been with the team since the start of the competition.
She also expressed her gratitude to the Chairperson of Nigeria Women’s League (NWFL) Board, Aisha Falode for her continuous goodwill messages to the team.
“I want to thank the President of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Pinnick through the head of the delegation, Alhaji Babagana Kalli, who has been with us right from day one encouraging and supporting us, we do not take those pep talk before our matches for granted,” she continued.
“I also want to thank Madam Aisha Falode for always calling to wish Rivers Angels well, we are here in Abidjan representing the best league in Africa and we promise not to fail the people of Rivers State and Nigerians.”
On Thursday, Rivers Angels will take on Hasaacas Ladies of Ghana in the regional final to decide the overall champion of the zone despite that both teams already picked the two tickets to the maiden edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League.
