Heartland Queens were well gifted with banana peels at the 2023/2024 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Annual General Assembly (AGA) NWFL Premiership draw ceremony in Lagos on Thursday, October 05, 2023.
The Owerri landladies were once again as it was the case in the immediate past league season drawn in Group A with over 94% different opponents but not in any way lesser or minor in rankings.
This time around the Owerri mainstream leaguers were pitched in same cabinet with former Nigerian champions, Nasarawa Amazons, Confluence Queens, Adamawa Queens, Naija Ratels, Royal Queens, newcomers Dannaz Ladies and oriental neighbours, Abia Angels.
In the immediate past pitching, the Owerri side faced the hurdles of three former champions and continent feasters, Rivers Angels, Bayelsa Queens, Delta Queens as well as two classmates, Naija Ratels and Royal Queens and relegates, Osun Babes. Heartland Queens proved their mettle with an impressive fifth finish, and missed albeit sorely the prime gift, Super Six spots.
In the draw on the table at the moment, the Lafia-based side are the only podium dancers in the midst and completely new to each other on the topflight campaign turf.
Other first timers in the topflight meetings are Adamawa Queens, Confluence Queens, Abia Angels and newcomers, Dannaz Ladies.
However, the entire teams are all familiar foes having crossed each other path in the past. Adamawa Queens were on the card in the Owerri side futile campaign in the 2021 NWFL Championship playoff in Abuja while Dannaz Ladies got roughened in the 2022 NWFL Championship playoff in Ijebu Ode, Ogun state where Heartland Queens posted a 100% performance and the oriental neighbours, Abia Angels were regulars in several build-ups and tune-ups and the outcomes have been largely even.
The duo, Naija Ratels and Royal Queens were classmates in the outgone season, and while the Abuja-based side nipped six points off the Owerri side, the Owerri outfit in turn arm-twisted the lady Seasiders and deservedly snatched a whole six point off them.
A mixed scenario is on the card in the upcoming season among the recurring classmates. Heartland Queens kicked off their comeback campaign in the last season at Naija Ratels in Abuja with a sore defeat and ended the season’s hassle sweetly at home against Royal Queens but come on the 2023/2024 NWFL Premiership opening day on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 the Owerri campaigners will be very much at home to receive the ‘revenge seeking’ Warri-based side, a match bookmakers have already inked down as a harbinger or tale bearer for Heartland Queens.
In all honesty, this very present group looks fair and fairer than the immediate past league groupings and holds a lot of potentials for the Owerri landladies to navigate aimed at palming for herself a first ever season’s prime gift, the Super Six.
Of course, Super Six spot has been inked and marked as the benchmark, minimal and reducible; the marching order comes from no mean persons than the number one citizen, Dist. Sen. Hope Uzodinma and the workaholic Commissioner for Youth, Sports & Social Development, Hon. Emeka Okoronkwo. The duo is sowing seeds in the team and rightly deserve bounteous dividend.
Fair, yes, the group is but nothing is going to be given on mere asking or on a platter of gold, every inch of success must be worked for and earned. Over the years, the nation topflight has shown it has no room for minnows, boardroom point as all points are earned on the field of play.
Despite the banana peels inherent in the eight-team group, the coach Obi Ogbala-tutored side are cooking omelette that will bemuse and charm fellow competitors to submission when the start bell sounds on Wednesday, November 15.
Qualities have been added to the bench, and the playing cadre, and motivation has been upped up to infectious level all geared towards ensuring that the team sings halleluiah and ink a Super Six spot when the curtains fell on the season.
Group B has FC Robo Queeens, Edo Queens, new comers, Lakeside Queens (Remo Stars Ladies), Ekiti Queens, Sunshine Queens and former champions, Rivers Angels, Bayelsa Queens, Delta Queens.
