Kunle Adelabu
After a successful outing at the first ever Beach Soccer tournament to be held in Ikorodu division, last December, Igbogbo has made another giant stride by participating in the 2021 Beach Soccer National League.
The Igbogbo Beach Soccer team, which was invited to the league because it won the first edition of the Igbogbo Beach Soccer tournament, is playing in the Group B of the league alongside Edo Beach Soccer Club (BSC), Smart City BSC, another team from Lagos State, and Kada BSC from Lagos.
Igbogbo team played and won its first match against Edo BSC 6-3 at Elegushi Beach on Saturday, April 3, 2021, but lost the other two games against Smart City and Kada BSC by 2 – 3 and 3 – 4 respectively at the Elegushi and Landmark Beaches.
Oghenevo Uzezi, the striker of the Igbogbo team, has 4 goals in the first phase.
The team will join others in teams in Kebbi in May for the second phase of the league.
Speaking with our reporter, Ewulogbo Dolapo (DD Dragon), the Media Officer of the Igbogbo team who was with the players during the league matches, on arrival in Igbogbo, described the participation as a milestone for Ikorodu Division and Lagos State.
“Our participation is a milestone for the Lagos State, Ikorodu Division and Igbogbo in particular. We are actually participating for the first time”, he said.
“We started our Beach Soccer tournament in Igbogbo and as God will have it, we are already known, thus, the invitation to the national league was extended to the Igbogbo team because of our success at the Igbogbo Beach Soccer tournament”, he added.
“Our participation in the national league is eally an eye opener for us and I believe that this would open doors for many opportunities.
“Although, we did not have time to train and prepare adequately, our players were in high spirits throughout the first phase despite challenges and we won the first match.
“We lost the next game due to technicalities and experience unlike the Smart City which has Lagos State’s officials and players and Kada which also has five national beach team players.
“Our Captain also had an injury and was unable to play the third match. But in all, it was a great outing and experiences which our players loved and cherished. We hope to do better in the second phase”, he assured.
Ademola Ogunlewe, the General Coordinator of the team, also speaking with our reporter, said that the team will be engaging in training and other activities soon to prepare players for the second phase of the league in Kebbi.
He also said that the team will give account of themselves as good ambassadors of Lagos State and Ikorodu Division.
Group A of the Beach Soccer Tournament comprises of Kebbi BSC, Badagry BSC, Anambra BSC and Kwara BSC.
