Head coach of Rivers Angels FC, Whyte Ogbonda has expressed his joy at ending his trophyless run after leading his team to their 9th National Cup title.
Blessing Okpe’s first-half penalty secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Naija Ratels, crowning the Jewels of Rivers as champions of the prestigious Women’s President Federation Cup.
Reflecting on the win, Ogbonda acknowledged the pressure he faced to deliver a trophy, especially after guiding Ibom Angels to second-place finishes in 2017 and 2018, where they lost to Rivers Angels. The victory was particularly sweet for the team, having missed out on the 2024 NWFL Premiership title during the playoffs in Yenagoa to eventual winners Edo Queens.
“The match wasn’t an easy one because I wasn’t expecting an easy game from Naija Ratels,” Ogbonda said. “I’ve gotten to a team like Rivers Angels where I have experienced and young players to be able to get the trophy. There was pressure on me to win. I am happy today to have broken the jinx as a trophyless coach.”
Ogbonda emphasised the team’s motivation following their NWFL disappointment. “The team is well-motivated because when they lost the NWFL, we told them that they need to give themselves a market value and bargaining power to end the season with a trophy. That’s what spurred them up to work hard to achieve the result today.”
With this victory, Ogbonda and Rivers Angels have reaffirmed their status as a dominant force in Nigerian women’s football, celebrating a much-deserved triumph and setting the stage for future successes.
