Kunle Adelabu
-Wallop Igbogbo team 7 – 3
It was a classy and superb display by players of the Badagry – based beach soccer team, Owiseb Beach Soccer Club, as they emerged champions of the second edition of the Igbogbo Beach Soccer Fiesta.
The team, which paraded five players playing in the National Beach soccer League, beat the home team, Igbogbo Beach Soccer team 7 goals to 3 in the three period matches played at the Igbogbo Township Stadium on Sunday, January 2, 2022.
The first period of the match, which was very entertaining, ended 2 – 1 in favour of Owiseb with Kehinde wearing No 9 jersey for the Igbogbo team scoring an own goal after a lack of communication between him and his goal keeper.
Kareem Hameed (No 20 jersey), an outstanding player for Owiseb team, scored a goal for his team while Oluwa Kazeem (No 12 jersey) scored a beautiful goal for the Igbogbo team before the Centre Referee, Jokogbola Olashile, ended the first period.
The Igbogbo team would have conceded more goals in the pulsating match but for their goalkeeper, Aina who made several saves in the match.
The second period of the match was dominated by the Owiseb team as the home team had no response to the several moves by the visiting team.
The period ended 3 goal to nil in favour of Owiseb with Taiwo Adams (No 18 jersey) scoring two goals from the spot while Kareem Hameed netted the third goal.
The period also saw the goalkeeper of the home team making several saves to prevent the Badagry team from humiliating his team.
The third and final period saw the Igbogbo team attempting to fight their way back into the game, especially with the introduction of Ayomide Iremitide (No 6 jersey) who brought life into his team’s game.
Also in the third period, Obi Ekele and Kareem Hameed scored for Owiseb while Demola Oluwa and Ayomide Iremitide scored for the home team.
Unfortunately, Igbogbo team lost an opportunity to increase their goal tally as Kehinde (No 9 jersey) who scored an own goal in the first period failed to convert a penalty awarded to his team.
Other teams that participated in the tournament were Offin Ile Beach Soccer Club and Pa Orlando Beach Soccer Club.
Meanwhile, in his royal remarks, HRM Oba (Barr.) Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, expressed his happiness that his kingdom successfully hosted other communities in the second edition of the Beach Soccer.
He pledged that the tournament will be sustained while charging the Igbogbo team also called Adeboruwa Boys, to accept the defeat in good faith and prepare very well for future games.
The royal father was represented by the Balogun of Igbogbo Kingdom, Chief Jelili Oduntan.
“We are happy that our Kingdom has successfully hosted other communities this year in the Beach Soccer tournament. This game has come to stay in Igbogbo”, the royal father declared.
“We shall give necessary support to the organisers so as to sustain the tournament.
“We congratulate the champions for their brave efforts and charge our boys to see the defeat as a challenge for them to prepare better next time so that they can do better”.
Organisers of the annual tournament Prince Ademola Ogunlewe, Mr Tolulope Faniyi and Prince Jelili Ogunmuyiwa among others were on ground to ensure the second edition of the beach soccer fiesta went smoothly.
Eminent personalities that watched the match included Prince Jimoh Ogunmuyiwa, former Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA and retired Referee, Mr Dele Aturu, State Secretary, Referee Association/Referee Assessor, Alhaji Kunle Ayokunle, the Alakoso Adinni, Igbogbo Central Mosque and Chief Executive Officer, Sula Bread, Igbogbo, Mr Idris Adeshina, Secretary, Igbogbo Day Planning Committee, Chief & Mrs Moses Obafemi, MON and ex – international among others.
