By Ijeoma Okigbo
Sunday Aloga, the coach of Benue Amazons female hockey team, on Thursday blamed rain and injury for his team’s failure to secure the maximum three points against Rivers Queens.
Aloga spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after his team’s 0-0 draw with the Port Harcourt-based side at the ongoing Hockey Super League at the Abuja National Stadium.
Aloga said the rain prevented the movement of his players on the pitch.
“The game was okay, but we had some deficiencies, such as injury, and the rain which disrupted our game did not help matters.
“We played on a rubber turf and a very slippery one. We are playing on a water base for the first time in this tournament and most of our shoes don’t have good grips, so it affected us.
“If the turf had been watered before now, we would have been used to it and would have prepared by putting on shoes with good grips. It would not have been a disadvantage to us.
“Also, my key players were carrying some few injuries during the match,” he said.
On his part, Authur Jumbo, chairman of Rivers Queens, praised his team’s performance, saying they tried their best as they had not participated in the league for long.
“We have been playing in the lower league and coming back to the Super League amd picking a draw with one of the best teams in the country is superb. I appreciate my players.
“It has not been easy for them but they have done well,” he said.
Jumbo also commended the standard of the women’s competition at the Super League.
NAN reports that seven teams are participating in the women’s competition which ends on Saturday.
