…as Fortress Ladies face Bayelsa Queens in quarter finals
The team Manager of Fortress Ladies Football Club of Benin, Jimmy Aimuagbonrie, has heaped praises on Edo state government and the Permanent Secretary, Edo State Sports Commission, Mrs Sabina Chikere, over their support for the female team so far in the 2023 Federation Cup.
Coach Jimmy expressed his team’s appreciation to the Edo state government during their thank you visit to the Permanent Secretary (PS) at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
The Fortress Ladies FC handler who vowed to surpass their past record of the round of 16 in the Federation Cup, said that the magnanimity and pragmatic leadership style of Mrs. Sabina Chikere in managing sports affairs in Edo state is a true statement about Governor Obaseki”s mantra that sports men and women must survive.
“We are private club and amateur side but with the PS, Edo Sports Commission, we do not feel alone. She has always made us feel the effect of the government of our land.
“Our PS, we have come to say thank you for all that you have done supporting us. It is through you we have been getting support from Edo state government in addition to your personal contributions. We have never had it so good. It goes to show that Governor Obaseki and Shaibu administration really mean well for sports men and women in Edo state. Through you, we feel the favourable impact of Edo government and through you we want to appreciate Edo state government today.
“It is our promise to represent Edo state well wherever we find ourselves in this competition and others. When we arrived in Aba, Abia state, for a match the other day, we were not seen as a private club but a representative of Edo. When we called the PS for support, she didn’t respond to us to make us feel like a private club that are on their own, but her prompt response gave us a sense of belonging to the state where things work.
“We are proud of you, we are proud of Olympian Yusuf Alli led Edo state Sports Commission and we are proud of Edo state government,” Jimmy enthused.
Receiving the Fortress Ladies team, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Sabina Chikere, said she was pleased with the progress so far made by the team and promised to always support them and others who are ready to contribute to the progress and development of sports in Edo state and Nigeria.
“I like your courage and it would be my joy to see Fortress Ladies v Edo Queens finals in the Federation Cup. We are in Edo state Sports Commission to make things work for all and not for only state government owned clubs.
“So, we will always do our best as government to support you because you represent Edo state in the ongoing Federation Cup. We wish you well in your next outings,^ Sabina said.
Earlier in a remark, the consultant on sports to Edo state government, Dr Kweku Tando said he was pleased to see a private female football club with young and disciplined children who are in school. “This is what the Obaseki led government want in Edo state; for sports men and women to combine education with sports. You are on the right track,” Kweku said.
Meanwhile, the Fortress Ladies Coach, Jimmy Amuagbonrie, has expressed his optimism that his team is capable of upsetting the defending Champions, Bayelsa Queens, in the quarter finals.
Fortress Ladies face an uphill task as they are paired against Bayelsa Queens in the last eight of the 2023 Federation Cup, scheduled to hold at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar on Thursday.
Coach Jimmy said an upset is possible,”The story of David and Goliath will repeat itself in Calabar,” He noted.
No amateur female team has ever reached the quarter finals stage in Nigeria but Fortress Ladies broke the jinks when they defeated Honey Bagder of Benue state 2-1 in the Round 16 last week.
Fortress Ladies FC began the 2023 Federation Cup campaign with a comprehensive 4-0 trashing of Owo-Itan FC of Akwa-Ibom in the Round of 32 in Aba, Abia state.
