Rivers Angels Coach Edwin Okon has hinted that his side are fully focused on winning the final and are not giving single attention to the protests against them, saying his team “is too big to play the unregistered player”.
Okon, who masterminded his side’s 3-0 victory over Confluence Queens in a Nigeria Women Premier League game played at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
The victory returned Angels back to the top of Group A of the NWPL and are helping towards the right direction to clinch another league and cup double.
“The league is very very tight at this level and we don’t need to drop the three points at this level,” Okon told the media.
“I don’t think of any other team. I think of what to do day by day in my own team and that is what has been helping us.”
The Jewel of Rivers who won the Women AITEO Cup last year, are through to this year final again, but still has a big allegation of fielding illegible player in semifinal Victory over Bayelsa Queens to defend.
The player in question is attacker Alice Ogebe who is the Bayelsa based team said was not eligible to play and a protest letter has been submitted
Okon, insists the protests are just distracting his team.
“The protests are part of distractions but I wouldn’t let it be what they think. As a coach, as a manager and as management, we just have to think ahead.
“All the protests against the team, in the first place, Rivers Angels is too big to play unregistered players in either the league or AITEO Cup. If it’s not our property, we won’t dare. So, I just see it as a distraction but we just have to remain focused on that level,” said a confident Okon.
The protest is expected are expected addressed before the week runs out and should Angels win again, they will take on familiar for in Ibom Angels. The final is scheduled for Tuesday 23, October at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa.