Delta Queens, Pelican Stars, others set for Super League challenge
By Gowon Akpodonor
AFTER several weeks of speculations, the 2004 female Super League competition will finally kick off tomorrow in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
Already, all the six teams, which qualified for this year's contest have arrived in Abuja, the competition venue
The teams, Pelican Stars of Calabar, Bayelsa Queens of Yenagoa, Sunshine Queens of Akure qualified from Group A, while Delta Queens of Asaba, FCT Queens of Abuja and Solid Babes of Nasarawa picked their tickets in Group B.
Delta Queens FC is the defending champions, having stopped other contenders to lift the title last year in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.
The Asaba girls have vowed to make it double this year by winning the Super Six competition in Abuja.
The team led by Coach Peters Dedevbo won the female Challenge Cup last month in Abuja, beating the hard-fighting Bayelsa Queens in the final. The match was decided on penalty shoot out which ended 5-3 in favour of the Asaba team.
Players and officials of Delta Queens, who spoke with The Guardian on their readiness for this year's Super Six challenge in Abuja stated that no team will stop them from making it double this season.
The Guardian, however, learnt that a low-spirit of motivation in the camp of Delta Queens may affect the team's performance in this year's Super Six competition.
It was learnt yesterday that some of the players and officials have not been paid their entitlements which included sign on fees, allowances and match bonuses for the out-going football season.
The players were said to have stayed out of training session on Monday to protest the non-payment of these entitlements.
Some of the players who spoke with The Guardian also lamented the inability of the state government to recognise their performance in the state.
"We won the Super Six competition in Umuahia last year, the Pa Inneh Cup in Benin City, the Sports Festival gold and the Challenge Cup for the state. No one is talking of hosting us. It is not the best way to pay the team. Look at teams like the Rivers Angels which finished third in this year's Challenge Cup. Governor Peter Odili rewarded them.
"From last year till now, Delta Queens have been winning and no reward for us. It will affect us," one of the players stated.
Efforts to speak with the Delta State Sports Commissioner, Solomon Ogba, who is the chairman of the club, could not yield fruits yesterday.
Meanwhile, Pelican Stars of Calabar has vowed to reclaim their title from Delta Queens in this year's Super League competition.
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