Head coach of Rivers Angels, Tosan Blankson, says his team will show full respect to Pacesetters Queens and will not underrate their opponents when both sides meet in the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) Premiership at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, www.aclsports.com reports.
Blankson, speaking ahead of the fixture on Wednesday, stressed that although Pacesetters are newcomers to the league, Rivers Angels are preparing for a difficult match and will approach the contest with the right mindset.
“We are very prepared. The match is going to be a very tough one; no team is a push-over,” he said. “Irrespective of the fact that they are newcomers, we must respect them, and we are going to respect them.
“We will take the match as it comes, and when our chances come, we will take them. Our coming here is to win, and I know definitely with the preparation we’ve got, we will win. We are not underrating them, but I know that at the end of the day, we will win.”
Asked about the mood in camp and the level of confidence among the players, Blankson was cautious, saying only the players can fully describe how ready they feel.
“If I should tell you the girls are well prepared and ready for the game, I may be telling lies,” he explained. “The players are the best to answer this because they are the actresses.”
Rivers Angels defender Sharon Onwere echoed her coach’s sentiments and confirmed that the team is focused on executing the game plan.
“We are well prepared and the coaches have told us what to do. It’s now left for us the players to execute it. We are ready for the match,” she said.
Asked whether Pacesetters’ two losses so far make the tie any less competitive, Onwere dismissed the idea.
“No, we are not underrating them. As far as they’re in the Premiership, they are a good side, same thing with us. We play the game tomorrow, see the outcome, and we pray for victory.”
The defender, who scored her first goal for the club on Matchday 2 against Naija Ratels, revealed she is hopeful of scoring again.
“Till tomorrow we will know,” she said. “I have it in mind and I am so confident that by God’s grace, I will. I will score.”
Rivers Angels will aim to build on their early-season momentum when they step onto the pitch in Ibadan on Wednesday, 10 December, at 4pm, balancing confidence with caution as they seek another vital NWFL Premiership victory.
