Heartland Queens have in its fold rich history of good number of players who have experienced and witnessed the elite football playoffs, Super Six even though as a team it’s going down as first timers in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.
Upto nine of the entire squad have had first hand experiences of the playoffs over the years and in various clubs prior to coming to Heartland Queens and all the niners coming from pristine notables, Rivers Angels, Bayelsa Queens, Nasarawa Amazons, Delta Queens, Pelican Stars, Inneh Queens, Edo Queens, Ebonyi Queens, Adamawa Queens, among others.
The experiencers in the heart of the Owerri mainstreams at the moment are on-the-field captain, Chimebere Opara, Uchenna Chukwu, Oluchi Ofoegbu, Joy Enamino and Joy Anthony. Others include Chinwendu Orji, Kelechi Orgii, Nnenna Williams and Marvellous Duru.
The experiencers are bringing to the table their rich and wealth of experiences to guide and role modelled the freshers in their midst on how to go about the businesses at the Super Six showdown. The shared experiences are surely going to be pivotal to the first timers going into the 10-day decisive football fiesta in Yenagoa.
The niners agreed that the experiences at the playoffs are something out of this world, amazing, exhilarating, exciting, career and life changing.
The Owerri side’s sleek winger, Chinwendu Orji puts it succinctly thus:
“It’s historical for a club to play in Super Six because it’s not easy as every club would want to play in the playoffs. It opens unimaginable opportunities to the player, enriches her profiles and widen the market value,” said the petite sharpshooter.
According to the rugged strong woman, Joy Anthony, the playoffs holds an unlimited opportunities for the experiencer.
“It’s a wonderful competition as it brings together in one place all the actors and players including scouts who come around to shop for quality players. The platform increases the player’s visibility and marketability once you are able to excel and prove your worth as well as boost one’s Curriculum Vitae,” said the fair complexioned rearguard.
Pin size midfielder, Marvellous Duru said the experience is amazing and life changing as it connects and exposes you to the world.
“Super Six has always been amazing in terms of experience, exposure and it offers you the rare opportunity to meet with the best players across the clubs as well as the window of opportunities it throws at the player and richness of one’s resume,” said the midfield maestro.
Hard-as-nails defender, Nnenna Williams said the playoffs is not for the lilly livered but the connections and opportunities usually override the challenges one may face in the football showpiece.
“Super Six is for the strong willed because it’s a tough competition but then what you gain surpasses the losses if there is any in the real sense of it. You gain in connection, visibility, marketability and enrichment of your profiles. My Curriculum Vitae is hyped and well boosted courtesy of my participation in the playoffs,” said the mean looking strongwoman.
And former Nigeria’s cadet international and the richest in experiences, Oluchi Ofoegbu described the butterflies as the biggest undoing of the freshers but added that it’s a gain, gain competition for the participants.
“Honestly, the first time I had experience of the playoffs I was tensed up and played under severe pressure but I overcome it in subsequent playoffs and became enjoyable with its several opportunities. I got exposed and no thanks to the naughty injury it would have been all 100% rosy and sweet,” said the amiable midfield masterclass.
Another hard-as-nails defender, Kelechi Orgii and experienced midfielder, Joy Enamino said Super Six is a women’s game not ladies with its unbelievable gains for the player.
“Super Six is a woman’s competition not lady and it’s a competition every player dreams of. Everyone wishes to be there because it’s outrightly exciting and sweet smelling with great opportunities. It enhances the player’s market value and enriches her profile. It’s an all round gains of a competition,” said the lanky and strong willed player.
Aside the threads of sweetness that run deep through the hearts of the nine experiencers they added that teams going into the rugged banter must be focused, determined and prepared in other to achieve the landmark set for the playoffs and these are the takeaways for the first timers in their midst as the clock ticks unwaveringly close for the start of the yearly action packed onslaughts in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state. They remained positive that Heartland Queens will not add to the numbers but compete favourably for the league diadem and ticket to represent the country at the CAF Women’s Champions League.
The contests in Yenagoa will be among the sixers – Heartland Queens, Rivers Angels, Bayelsa Queens, Nasarawa Amazons, Confluence Queens and Edo Queens.
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