Hold Imo FA responsible, if Heartland Queens lose Federation Cup– Coach Ogala
By Athan Agbakwuru, Owerri
As Heartland Queens FC of Owerri warm up for the 2025 Federation Cup with diminutive Onimarge FC in Benin City, Edo State this Saturday, Coach Obi Ogala has urged the club’s fans, Imo State government and soccer enthusiasts to hold Imo Football Association, FA, responsible if the team fails to clinch the coveted trophy.
Ogala made the assertion Wednesday while speaking during a post-match media interaction with sports journalists at the Dan Anyiam Stadium where Heartland Queens FC humbled the visiting Nasarawa Amazons with a 2-1 defeat.
He revealed and expressed concern that he is going to execute the tournament with only 16 players instead of a full squad because the others do not have their licences with them
He disclosed that many of the team’s players have their licences withheld and as a result cannot feature in the coming championship and pleaded with all football stakeholders to intervene and prevail on the Imo FA to do the needful before it’s too late.
His words, “Our match today with Nasarawa Amazons is a good one, not minding missing the Super Six. I have to apologize to the Governor and Imolites. We are going for the Federation Cup. We have learnt our lessons-our strength and weaknesses and we have to build on what we have learnt.
“We are going for Federation Cup and that’s where our strength is now. But let me tell Imolites this, If I fail to bring the Federation Cup, hold the FA responsible. I was shortchanged by my players. I don’t have a full squad. My licences were not given to all my players. So I am with only 16 players to execute the Federation Cup. We’re going to try our best. That’s the assurance I am giving Imolites. Come this Saturday we’re going to enter the quarter- finals.”
The coach who was elated that the Owerri Landladies grabbed the three points after beating Nasarawa Amazons hinted that the team has shifted focus to the 2025 Federation Cup having failed to qualify for the Super Six.
He described the performance of his players as impressive despite all odds pointing out that the players are adapting and blending fast as well as improving in many areas for better performance in future games
The MatchDay14 game which was the last for the Heartland Queens in the 2024/25 Nigeria Women’s Football League, NWFL, season witnessed two determined teams showing prowess in both attack and defence from the blast of the kick-off whistle to the full time of the encounter.
In the 36th minute Faith Samson astutely scored the first goal of the match through a penalty kick following a foul play Committed by the defender of Nasarawa Amazons and the first half ended 1-0 in favour of Heartland Queens.
Samson, in the midst of scrambling strikers of Heartland Queens and Amazons’ defenders, made a swift move in the goal mouth of the visitors and scored the second goal for the Owerri side, midway into the second half.
The visitors who were unrelenting in their pressure in the goal area of the Owerri Landladies through a sharp header converted a corner kick for the Amazons thereby reducing the tally to 2-1.
Having concluded the NWFL, the Ogala babes will now focus on the 2025 Federation Cup round of 16 with solid assurance from the coach that the team will sail on to the quarter-finals this weekend.
