OLOWOOKERE BEMOANS FINAL LOSS BY TEAM IJA, APPRECIATES LESSONS OF SPORTS FESTIVAL

Head Coach Bankole Olowookere has praised the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Football Federation for the opportunity presented to the National U17 Girls’ team, Team IJA, to feature in the 22nd National Sports Festival ongoing in Ogun State. The team already qualified for this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals, but lost in the final of the female football event to Team Delta, following a penalty shootout at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex on Tuesday evening. “First and foremost, kudos to the NSC that invited us to participate, and also the NFF. The festival provided an opportunity for us to test some of the new players that we have scouted through local tournaments and the league as well. We were able to integrate some of them into the squad. “Our third goalkeeper was in goal throughout and didn’t concede a single goal in regulation time throughout the festival. I commend the defenders as well.” He attributed the defeat in the penalty shootout to inexperience on the part of the goalkeeper, who parried the ball into the net instead of parrying it away. “We have also seen that we have to train more in the area of penalty kicks, going to the World Cup. “Sincerely, the Team IJA concept is commendable. We were also able to scout new players from some other States that featured in the female football event.”