Nwaneri relishes Abia Angels return for NWFL Premiership derby

Heartland Queens’ chief coach, Adanna Nwaneri has said her matchday 3 home visit to former club side will end in glory.

The Owerri side will be the guests of nextdoor neighbours, Abia Angels in Wednesday’s NWFL Premiership matchday 3 oriental derby at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba.

The former Nigerian player who was in charge of the Umuahia side two seasons ago said nothing will make her day balm than a convincing victory in the first time ever competitive game between the sisters.

“Of a truth, I have been giving that fixture a whole lot of attention and thinking right from the time the draws were made because it’s a match I want to win convincingly.

“We have severally changed and altered our training schedules upon return from Nasarawa Amazons aimed at coming up with a specific match plan strictly for the game.

“Incidentally, Abia Angels were my former team and even as an active player each time I am billed to face the former side I always do my very best and that attitude has not changed now that I am a coach. So I want my girls to be at their best on matchday to give us the desired victory,” said the Nigerian cadet team assistant coach.

The former Nigerian strong woman said she is not bordered by the fact that her side are going to confront their former coach now in charge of Abia Angels.

“Technically, I know he will have few tabs on the team being a former coach and would make some claims but you know each season players do come and go and we have a chunk of good new players in our midst and unknown to him and that makes me also, so his past knowledge of the team is immaterial and I am not worried.

“All I know is that everyone has his/her own good day and luck and I believe that day is going to be my good day.

“And despite the fact that he has three of our former players with him, remember we dropped the players because they are not good.

“Although in football a player may not be good here but go to another place to be extremely good, so that is not an issue, I know that we have worked very hard and I believe come on matchday we are coming out victorious,” said Nwaneri.

The former Nigerian rugged defender said the match will have it’s own natural challenge being a local derby.

“Of course, it’s a derby and it’s going to be difficult. Besides, everyone connected with the previous side will want to make and prove some points.

“I know for sure that we are going to win, the players have promised to deliver the goods on matchday.

“And the players who were not making the list under the former coach will want to prove themselves as good materials.

“Football is a practical stuff and decisions are made in 90 minutes and something keeps telling me that we will emerge winners at the end of the day,” said the former Invincible Angels gaffer.

The Owerri landladies will inch close to the top of the log with an outright victory at Abia Angels before coming back home to welcome the Lokoja-based side, Confluence Queens in matchday 4 come next Wednesday, December 06.

Heartland Queens Media