Organisers of the Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament (BOWFT) have presented consolation prizes to Confluence Queens, Royal Queens, Heartland Queens and Naija Ratels after they crashed out in the quarter-finals stage of the tournament.
The teams received N500,000 cheques each as consolation prizes.
Representative of the organisers and Permanent Secretary, Edo State Sports Commission, Mrs Sabina Chikere, urged the players to redouble their efforts as they prepare for the main league, which begins in October.
Head Coach of Confluence Queens FC, Iyade Bashiru, said the tournament provided an opportunity to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the team just before the women’s football league begins in October.
“This was a very good testing ground for us. Coming so far to the quarter-finals and losing is not what we expected but this has given us an insight into what we need to do within the team before the league begins. This is one of the best pre-season competitions I have ever seen and it is a win-win situation. Once you participate, you’re a winner,” he said.
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Bashiru expressed appreciation to the facilitator, Edo State First Lady, Mrs Betsy Obaseki, noting, “I thank Mrs Betsy Obaseki and the organizing committee and I believe they will maintain this pre-season tournament because it’s a very good one for us.”
Also, Obi Ogbala, the Head Coach of Owerri-based Heartland Queens, said the pre-season tournament has given them the avenue to prepare for the premier league, adding, “This tournament has given us something we have to take home to improve upon.”
The captain of Naija Ratels, Josephine Dzer attributed the failure to win their last qualifiers match to loss of concentration and expressed appreciation for the consolation prizes from the organizers, noting, “It feels great and encouraging.”
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