Kunle Adelabu
The home team in the opening match of the 2021 Ikorodu Divisional Football League, Jesus Link FC, took the maximum three points against their opponents, Ultimate Villa FC, in a thrilling match played on Saturday, January 23, 2021.
It was played at the newly opened and uncompleted Lagos State Polytechnic Stadium which had been abandoned for some years.
The home team, which paraded older players, capitalised on defensive errors to score the visiting team twice in the first 13minutes of the first half.
While Collins Orji, who wore jersey no. 25 for Jesus Link FC , registered himself as the first scorer in the new season, scored in the 4th minutes, Akinbo Akeem (no. 10 jersey) added the second goal in the 13th minutes.
Temitope Tope (no. 5 jersey for Ultimate Villa FC) brought his team back into the game when he scored via penalty in the 29th minutes of the game, his colleague, Salami Azeez (no. 8) netted another goal in the 59th minutes to bring the scoreline to a tie.
The match eventually ended 3-2 in favour of Jesus Link FC with Mukaila Azeez (no 16 jersey) scored a superb free – kick for Jesus Link FC in the 64th minutes to make three.
In the two other matches in Week 1 played on Sunday, Cottage FC played 1 – 1 draw with Browl FC at home in a match played at the Saint College in Isawo, while Kareem FC lost 0 – 1 at home in Imota to Unizee FC .
Speaking with Coach Wahab Abolore, the Director and manager, Ultimate Villa FC and Academy after his team lost 3 – 2 at the opening match, he commended his young team for their performance and described the loss as a challenge for his team to be fully prepared for subsequent games.
“I give thanks to God for the players’ efforts today despite the fact that they are new in the game. This is their second year in the league and their performance has been wonderful. They have been having good records and losing the first match doesn’t mean that we cannot still win the league.
“This defeat is a challenge and it will make our boys know that they can do better and win when an away team comes to our own ground. I expect them to have been in good shape before our next match”, he said.
Commenting on the officiating, Coach Abolore charged the IDFA and Referee Society to always make use of best hands among the Referees in the league matches while also commending the performances of the officials.
“The officiating is not bad but I can only tell the IDFA and the Referee Society to give us more of their best hands because when it comes to a game, these are things that we enjoy more. If the officiating is good, the game will be perfect”, he said.
“Kudos to the officials, though, they are upcoming referees. They can do better in subsequent games”, Coach Abolore said.
Coach Garba Isiaka, Head coach, Jesus Link FC, said that the maximum three points is all that matters in a league match while thanking the owner of the team for his support.
“We give glory to God for the maximum three points because in a league match, all that you need is the maximum points to move ahead of your opponents.
“We also want to thank Pastor Atilola of the Redeemed Christian of God who is our club chairman, for the support he has been given to us.
“He has been trying to develop young boys by taking them off the streets and we are very grateful because we have a good story to give back to him”.
The match Commissioner, who is also a chieftain of the IDFA, Chief Yisa Orelesi, in his post match comment, commended the new pitch and described the opening of the 2021 league season as fantastic.
“The opening is very interesting at the new stadium that we are using in LASPOTECH which has just been cleared for use about two weeks ago and it was a standard pitch, but we implore the government to improve upon that facility”, he charged.
“Today’s opening match was a very fantastic one and with fine result too. The home team eventually won the match 3 -2.
“We did not publicise the commencement of the league much because of the ravaging COVID – 19 because many spectators might not follow the protocol stipulated as there is no gate, except that the Polytechnic security will enforce the protocols before allowing people into the campus.
“We are trying to control the crowd because of the COVID – 19 epidemic, but I know that by the next match, the crowd will be much whether they are invited or not”, Coach Yisa said.
