Head coach of Bayelsa Queens, Whyte Ogbonda, says the target of the defending Nigeria Women Football League Premiership (NWFL) champions remains to retain the trophy and earn a place on the CAF stage, www.aclsports.com reports.
Ogbonda, speaking ahead of the 2025/26 league kickoff on Wednesday, emphasised that his team remains fully focused on defending their crown despite the rising level of competition this season.
In an exclusive chat with ACLSports, he noted that although several clubs have strengthened their squads, Bayelsa Queens remain motivated and committed to staying at the top.
“We have worked hard in preseason and the girls understand what is at stake,” he said. “We know every team that wants to play Bayelsa Queens is preparing extra hard to try and disgrace us or use a win to make a name for themselves, but we will not allow that; rather, we will use them to make a name for ourselves.”
Reflecting on last season’s success, Ogbonda attributed it to strong backing from the Bayelsa State Government and careful recruitment. “It has to do with a lot of motivation from the state government. The players were well motivated, from the governor to the deputy governor. They realised there was something for them to go home with after each win, and that pushed them to get three points in every match,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of recruitment in maintaining high performance. “We recruited well, and most of the players understood why they were here because the state government made it known that they wanted us to go international and to get the trophy. That plan went a long way to ensure the players worked very well and endured, and that’s why we were where we were at the end of last season.”
Ogbonda recalled the disappointment of missing out on the CAF Women’s Champions League after losing to ASEC Mimosas in the WAFU-B final, but praised the government’s support in lifting the players’ spirits. “We scored two good goals that shouldn’t have been disallowed, and before that we had a clear penalty that wasn’t given to us. At the end, we lost on penalties. The government saw everything and sympathised with us. They made the players know that’s not the end of life and that we still have another chance next season to go back there again,” he said.
On new signings, Ogbonda highlighted the impact of players like Janet Akekoromowei and Emem Essien. “These players joining boosted the moral and technical and tactical aspect of the team. It’s a good thing that we still have most of the players who went for the WAFU-B qualifiers intact, and we still brought in new players. Their presence will help us this season to ensure we get the NWFL trophy again.”
Discipline and squad depth, he said, are key to sustaining success. “Before I came to Bayelsa, there was a lot of indiscipline. I worked on ensuring the players are disciplined, keep to the rules, and maintain camp standards. One good thing about Bayelsa Queens is that we can change the first eleven, bring in another eleven, and they will play to the same level. That has been pushing us because we have all the players in the department, and anyone can be called at any point and give a better result,” he added.
Bayelsa Queens open their NWFL Premiership campaign at home against Edo Queens, and Ogbonda says the mood in camp is high. “Home matches are not easy because there’s a lot of pressure, but I try to calm the players down. We can beat any team anywhere,” he concluded.
