Rivers Angels depart for maiden CAF Women Champions League

A delegation of Rivers Angels Football Club of Port Harcourt has departed for Cote d’Ivoire, where they will feature in the maiden edition of the CAF Women Champions League.

Prior to departure yesterday, the team was hosted to a party, where they were assured of maximum support by the Rivers State government and the state’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman, Ambassador Desmond Akawor. And to prove the level of support, the PDP chairman promised the team N1 million for every goal scored during the qualifiers in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

Speaking as Special Guest at the send-forth party in Port Harcourt, Ambassador Akawor charged the girls to dust all comers and make Nigeria proud, stressing that he was making the pledge on behalf of the party to motivate the players to give their best.“It is great that it is happening at a time that there is a sports-loving man as the governor of Rivers State, who by the Grace of God is the Power of Sports in Africa. It is only a man like Governor Nyesom Wike that will invest in Real Madrid Football Academy to prove his love for sports development,” he said.

And to further deepen his appreciation for the governor’s efforts in promoting the team, he rechristened the team as Rivers Angels International Football Club, adding, “You must sustain what we have, and not bring down the bar.

“You are the representatives of Nigeria, you must exhibit the greatest discipline and move as a team. Comportment is key and means a lot, don’t be deterred until the laurel is brought to the state.”

Also speaking, Rivers Commissioner for Sports, Boma Iyaye, also praised Governor Wike for his deep passion and commitment to sports development.

“There should be no excuse for failure, there is nothing like second best, everything has been provided for you, allowances, accommodation, etc.

“We are going there for business and not for a show or jamboree, and we must succeed. We want to conquer Africa, we are already champions in Nigeria, the only thing we can do for Rivers Government is to qualify for the next stage,” he said.