BY SAB OSUJI

Maureen Mmadu, a former Super Falcons midfielder and later Assistant Coach, has heaped plaudits on her Academy players following their thrilling performances at the concluded 12th Chief of Naval Staff/Navy Officers Wives Association, NOWA, U17 Football Tournament organised by the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria, YSFON, concluded Saturday at Nnadi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, Exclusivenews.com.ng reports.

The MMKC damsels returned to their Ozubulu camp, Ekwusigo LGA, Anambra State, on Sunday, in a blaze of glory, despite not plucking the top prize.

MMKC emerged tops during their four-team group play offs, with two wins and a draw, to seal a place in the knock out stages with a 3-0 win against Benue State representatives; 1-0 triumph over Cross River and a nail bitting 1-1 draw against Ondo State.

In the quarter finals, the Maureen Mmadu Football Academy girls defeated Rivers 4-3 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 regulation time scoreline.

They however went down fighting 1-2 to Ebonyi State in the semi final that was tagged 'Oriental Derby'.

They later vented their anger on Osun State in the third classification match, with a commanding 2-0 win, thus, ensuring they never returned to Anambra State empty-handed.

The bronze medal feat was not all they achieved. Two of the players, Chinecherem 'Secunda' Nwankwo who was the smallest player in the Tournament and Adaeze Ayoka demonstrated their quality and potentials with three goals each in the six matches they played.

Sole financier and coach of the team, Maureen Mmadu, commended the girls for being true Ambassadors of Anambra State at the competition.

She said she was proud of the girls especially because each of them gave over 100% during the tournament.

"This is the first time they would take part in such national competition", starts Mmadu in a soft tone.

"We arrived Enugu and some of the players were screened out so we were thus made to go through the tournament right from the group stage with only 13 players. This means that in every single match, we would only have two players on the bench, thus, forcing the players to play all through the six matches, tired or not, injury or not.

"We did this in the true spirit of Anambra. We were out to make our state proud and bring honour to it. This is aside the financial constraints. It has been my personal effort all through", Mmadu said.

The former Nigeria international disclosed that Rangers coach and Team Manager met and spoke to the girls, encouraging them to go all out for victory during the tournament.

"They also told the players that their Proprietor and coach, Maureen Mmadu, was a good player during her illustrious career and a good coach too.

"She has played football up to the highest level", the Rangers officials told her players, according to Mmadu.