Heartland Queens fights doggedly but lacks team spirit – Vandi
By Everest Ezihe, Owerri
Coach Jacobs Vandi of Ekiti Queens Football Club of Ado Ekiti has described Heartland Queens FC, Owerri as a club that fights doggedly but lacks team spirit in their approach to the game of football.
Vandi disclosed this on Wednesday at the VIP Stand of Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri during post match press briefing, shortly after his aggressive attacking team lost to Heartland Queens 2-1 in the first match of 2025/2026 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership campaign.
According to him,”the opponent has fighting spirit, they fought very well but they don’t play as a united team. They volley ball into the air too much. Honestly, if they get teams that kicks the ball very well, they will definitely be loosing matches”.
The sweat merchant further pointed out that even though they lost, the girls played according to instructions and really tried their best. “Our opponent fought gallantly for the winning, and I respect them for that”.
He lamented seriously against the miss of prime scoring chance in the 81st minutes of play by his attacker that would have earned them a deserved equalizer.
Vandi equally sees the game of football as you either win, loose or draw, even though he discredited the officiating saying that technically, the Centre Refree loosed her whistle and she allegedly killed the game by blowing against them in small infringements, “like we played only 4 free kicks in a game of 90 minutes. The Refree did not do well and if you count my opponent’s own is more than 12 or 13” he alleged.
However, Coach Obi Ogbala of Heartland Queens FC , said that they are committed in improving the faults of the team, “we are equally conscious that our outing last season was not impressive. My mission is to win despite what my opponent thinks about my team.
“What we played was not our best but this the first match of the season and we were out to win. The most important thing, is to win but we’re going back to the drawing board to correct some observed technical lapses” he assured.
Ogbala pointed out that his players played in accordance with his instructions, even as he likened the league to a marathon race, noting that any point lost as a big minus.
He agreed that there are so many new players in the team and the team is seriously suffering from blending into an understanding team, the lapses he also said the technical crew is working on, while assuring all stakeholders of the club, of an improved team in their subsequent matches.
Miss. Chidiebere Opara, the captain of the Owerri babes observed that the early goal they conceded within 4th minutes of the play as a home team was devastating and demoralizing, but she asked the players to remain focused and dogged, which she said paid off for their 2-1 win.
Opara assured of the team commitments in stepping up the game in their subsequent matches.
She also lamented that her team has an ill luck of conceding early goals and only garnered fighting spirit from behind which she assured will not happen in their next away match with Edo Queens FC of Benin.
The Skipo as she’s properly called by her team mates faulted Coach Jacob Vandi criticisms against her team saying that, “playing the ball on the air was a systematic approach of frustrating their opponent’s game strategy, and it paid off”.
She reassured their fans, supporters and Imo State government of better results this season, insisting of garnering point in their away match with Edo Queens FC of Benin.
