Edo Queens Coach Queried For Alleged Sabotage

OKAFOR CHINEDU MOSES

The Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission (ESSC) Yussuf Alli has queried the Head Coach of the state women’s football club Edo Queens, Wemimo Olarewaju Mathew for allegedly sabotaging the team by fielding second-string players which led 2-0 lost to Osun Babes.

Sources close to ESSC told our correspondent that Alli’s query signed by the Commission’s Permanent Secretary Sabina Amiemenoghena Chikere seek to know why the Edo Queens lost an important match which deprived the club of the opportunity of finishing top of the table.

Alli seeks an answer to why Mathew decided not to use the club’s best leg for the important but decided to use the club’s second team.

If Mathew had used his best legs against Osun Babes, Edo Queens would have won the match and finished on top of the table now every member of the team is psychological down because of Mathew’s indiscretion.

But Mathew in her response apologizes for the psychological trauma she may have caused the team, the management of ESSC, and ultimately the sports-loving Deputy Governor of Edo State Philip Shaibu who has been very supportive of the team.

Mathew accepted that though she fielded a second team which led to the loss to Osun Babes she claimed it was not a deliberate but due to injury to several first-team players.

Mathew claimed four defenders who are regular players were injured. Then two other defenders and an attacker who are also regular on the team are on national assignment.

Mathew said the following were injured and could not play against Osun Babes, Ajimuda Rebecca, a defender,

Lucky Idiri, a defender, Opeyemi Sunday a defender,  Akudo Ogbonna a defender  (Super Falcons) Blessing Sunday another defender (Under 17), Adaobi Ukah an attacker (Under 17) Abibat Agbaji attacker (injured) and Nkiruka Obidinma goalkeeper (injured ).

He blamed the team’s defeat on the unavailability of the aforementioned players.

Mathew promised a tremendous positive improvement in the performance of the team in the upcoming Super Six.