If information coming from Lokoja, capital of Kogi State is anything to go by, Confluence Queens football club may not actualize their dream of winning the women league as they may not participate at the 2019 Nigeria Women Premier League, NWPL Super 4 billed for Lagos on 29 of October as a result of financial challenges.
Reports have it that Confluence Queens who qualified for the title deciding NWPL Super 4 for the first time in the history of the team are cash strapped to make the Lagos trip.
Sources close to the team revealed that Confluence Queens have been battling with financials challenges through the season and yet to receive any percentage from their season’s sign on fees.
It was also learned that Coach Whyte Ogbonda led team crashed out earlier from this year’s Aiteo Cup due to lack of funds.
The team’s situation may remain the same as there was no top government officials available to hear the team’s outcry as everyone was busy with Governor Yahaya Bello’s reelection campaign.
“Those girls are just training daily with the hope that they will make it to Lagos after they have worked hard to make history of getting the Super 4 ticket for the first time.
“It will really dampen their spirit and morale if they don’t later go due to no money issue, when they are not a private club, I’m not even sure anyone is talking to them from government, whether Commissioner for Sports, SA Sports or anybody, and the chairman only have little to do on this.
“Imagine they have a very important matches to win the league in few days and nothing is happening to decide whether they will go or not. It will be by miracle for them to make it because everybody is busy with campaign for governor’s second term election.
“Imagine a government owned club not having a bus of their own, I see them in another bus to trainings and match centres for more than a season after their own had an accident,” the source said.
Efforts to reach club chairman, Abdul Sule proved abortive as his lines could not be reached. Head Coach of the team, Whyte Ogbonda when cornered at the team’s training on Tuesday refused to talk as he said his job was to coach and prepare the team and not administration.
The Lokoja based queens are expected to compete for the league trophy against top NWPL clubs in Rivers Angels, defending champions Bayelsa Queens and Adamawa Queens.
Confluence Queens finished top of their Group D ahead of Ibom Angels, Abia Angels and Invincible Angels.
