Kunle ADELABU
Liwe A Football Cub have emerged winners of the inaugural edition of the Hon. Awolesi Omotayo Omobolaji Ward C Zonal Gold Cup tournament after beating Itundofin B Football Club 2-0 in the final match played at the Ita-Elewa Recreational Centre in Ikorodu.
The five-aside tournament was organized by Owogaff Youth Soccer Organization, one of the associations promoting soccer development in Ikorodu division.
In first half of the tension soaked match, which was attended by many dignitaries and fans, both teams played with caution as the half ended goalless.
Both teams, however, resumed hostility in the second half with the determination to dominate the game and take the lead.
However, despite attempts by Itundofin B FC to seize the opportunity of the argument which ensued among their opponents to mount pressure and take control of the game, it was Liwe A FC that took the lead in the 52th minute through their intelligent play.
The goal was scored by the substitute, Owolabi Emmanuel (in jersey number 7), whose pace was too much for the Itundofin B FC players to handle.
After the goal, Liwe A FC effortlessly took charge of the match and forced their opponents to play their game.
In the 59th minute, Liwe A FC striker who was the highest goalscorer of the tournament, Lawal Azeez (in jersey number 8), scored the second goal to take his tally to 8 goals, when he brilliantly connected a well taking corner kick to send the massive crowd of spectators into a wild jubilation.
However, efforts by the players of Itundofin B FC to come back into the game almost paid off in the 64th minute but one of their players, Musa (in jersey number 7), accidentally deflected a shot which was heading towards the opponents’ net.
One of Liwe A FC players, Lawal, however, almost scored the third goal for his team in the 71st minute but his effort was swiftly parried by the Itundofin B FC goalkeeper.
The winning team was presented with a cash prize of N25,000 and a gold trophy while the players and their officials were decorated with gold medals.
The runners-up team received N15,000 cash prize with the players decorated with silver medals.
Meanwhile, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly and the representative of the Ikorodu Constituency I, announced the sum of N25,000 and N15,000 as additional cash prizes for the champions and runners-up respectively and #10,000 cash rewards for the match officials as part of his supports for the tournament.
He also commended Hon. Awolesi and the organizers of the tournament for staging a successful championship.
Meanwhile, Lawal Azeez, Liwe A FC striker and the team’s goalkeeper, Haruna Lawal, won the golden boot and best goalkeeper awards respectively.
The award for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament was presented to Ganiu Alagbe, a player of Itundofin B FC, while Mr Moshood Ogunsanya, a fan, received the Peacemaker award for his role in helping the organizers to douse tension and appeal to aggrieved parties during the tournament.
Other dignitaries at the final match were Hon. Babajimi Benson, Member, Federal House of Representatives, Alhaji Taiwo Longe, Chairman, Ikorodu All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief (Mrs) Sonubi Folake Adebimpe, Iyalode of Ikorodu, Alhaji Lateef Afinni, Secretary to the Ikorodu Local Government, Hon. Isa Salma, Leader, Ikorodu Local Government, Barr. Lekan Ijelu, Hon. Gbenga Awobajo, Hon. Olohunwa Oshodi, Hon. Azeez Banwo, Hon. Toheeb Olowoeyo and Hon. Azeez Jimoh Olosugbo, former Council Leader, Ikorodu Local Government.
