Bayelsa Queens Will Make Nigeria Proud In CAF Champions League – Whyte
Bayelsa Queens coach Ogbonda Whyte has revealed that the team is ready to make Nigeria proud by winning the Women’s CAF Champions League glory.
Whyte led Bayelsa Queens to their sixth NWFL title, and his first-ever league triumph as a coach in the 2024-25 season.
The Prosperity Girls topped the group with 10 points from five games to win their sixth NWFL title in style.
He ended his long wait for a league title two weeks ago at the Remo Stars Stadium after finishing as runners-up twice while at Ibom Angels.
He also led Rivers Angels to the 2024 President Federation Cup title to win his first career trophy.
Bayelsa Queens will become the second first NWFL Premiership club to qualify for the CAF Women’s Champions League for the second time.
In their first edition in 2022, Bayelsa Queens won the bronze medal, and Whyte has tipped the club to improve on their last showing in the competition.
Whyte also opened up on the secrets behind the club’s title-winning feat in an exclusive interview with The WHISTLER’s Taiwo Ibrahim.
How do you feel winning your first ever title as a coach
Whyte: “I’m so happy to win my first title as a coach that is the dream of every coach especially with the opportunity to play in the Women’s Champions League in Africa”
You lost just one game all season. What was the secret of the team?
Whyte: “It has to do with the recruitment of the club we brought in players that wanted to play for coach, the players gave their all and also we had a lot of financial motivation from the players because they get bonuses for goals scored and matches won, most of the players needed those money so they go extra mile to ensure the get it.”
Thirdly, I have about 35 players and I have confidence in them, and they also believe in him and trust my judgement. I also managed them well with all of them sharing the playing time, the least person in the team played three matches in the regular season.
I had four goalkeepers, and all of them tasted action in the league. I didn’t repeat any goalkeeper in two consecutive matches, so it played a major role in bringing love, and unity to the team which helped us to become champions.
How would you describe the season from the regular one to the Super Six?
“It was very tough in the regular season up until the last day of the season that some teams confirmed their places in the Super Six.
In the Super Six, It was even tougher. We won the league in the last minute because our match ended before the Edo Queens match but we could not celebrate because we were not sure of what we came out of the other centres.
The organisation was top notch from the regular season to the Super Six, officiating too was fine, they gave us the best of referees, if they can keep it up there will be a lot of improvement next season.
What are the plans to ensure Bayelsa Queens improve on their past performance in the Champions League?
Whyte: “The management and the coaching crew are working round the clock to ensure that we beef up the team because we know we are representing Nigeria first in the WAFU B competition, and then the Champions League so we have to fortify the team for that challenge.
“The Bayelsa State Government are always ready to provide the necessary support to the team they have been in the competition before so they know what it takes to prepare the team, we are also going to play some friendly matches outside Nigeria before the start of the WAFU B competition, which will go a long way to help us achieve our aim of qualifying for the Champions League.
How can the Government Improve Women’s Football in Nigeria?
Whyte: “First of all, The State Governments that don’t have women’s team should be encouraged to set it up where most of these players can have the opportunity to showcase their talent because when most of the players finish from secondary school there is nothing for them to do and most of their parents can’t sponsor them to further their education, so it is through football that they manage to help themselves and further their education. If all the states can have a women’s football team it will go a long way in improving the game in Nigeria.
“Secondly, the issue of sponsorship should be ironed out in the NWFL, look at the men’s league the winner was rewarded with 200 million naira, and the women’s league champions got 10 million naira as prize money because the NWFL does not have a sponsor.
“The prize money is not encouraging at all because it is not even up to what the state government spends in prosecuting one or two matches
What makes you different from other coaches ?
Whyte: “Most of the players want to play under me because they know that as a coach I will fight for their welfare, wherever I work they want to play for me.
I also don’t discriminate between old or young players, I like to give younger players the opportunity to show their talents. I like to mix young players who have not been tested before with the experienced ones so they will grow through me. That’s what I did in Ibom Angels, Confluence Queens by bringing in a lot of young players who have not been tested before and they made it.
Most of them know that I encourage younger players and they want to play under me and I also try to keep my hands clean. If you deserve to play I will give you the opportunity once you do well in training. That is the secret.
How do you intend to maintain this level of consistency next season?
Whyte: “Some of our players will be seeking greener pastures. We already have a plan in place to promote some players from the academy, and we have started injecting them into the team. We will keep the ones we have and we have players to replace the ones that are leaving. There will be no problem keeping the standard we achieved last season.
Whyte: “Our first target is to go to the WAFU B competition and qualify for the Champions League, and to get to the final this time around we want to surpass our record of two seasons ago by winning the trophy.
The Bayelsa State Government rewarded the players with a sum of 500, 000 naira per goal and three million naira for a win which is different from the match bonuses.
Bayelsa Queens received a ₦10m grand prize. Nasarawa Amazons earned ₦6 million as second-place finishers, while Edo Queens were rewarded with ₦4m. The remaining teams—Rivers Angels, Remo Stars, and Naija Ratels—each received ₦1.5m.
Bayelsa Queens Will Make Nigeria Proud In CAF Champions League – Whyte is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
