BY SUNDAY AKINTOYE
After waiting for three years, Broad City on Sunday morning in Lagos emerged as Champions of Jagaban Cup.
Broad City defeated newcomers, Klassisch FA Academy 1-0 in the final watched by mammoth crowd at the FIFA legacy pitch of national stadium, Surulere Lagos.
Broad City took the lead as Solomon Agbalaka scored the winning goal in the 42 minutes to send their fans into wild jubilation.
Effort by Klassisch boys to get equaliser proved abortive as Broad City were tactically discipline in the defence line throughout the high tension soaked match.
Broad City Coach, Kazeem Adeyemi described the victory well deserved and attributed team’s performance as a result of consistency and determination.
He admitted that their opponents gave them a run for their money but thanked God that his boys came out victorious.
“It was a tough match for us because our opponents gave us a good fight.What really worked for us in this encounter was that my boys were consistent and determined to win this tournament.I must commend my boys for the hard fough victory against their opponents because we waited for three years before we finally won it,”he said.
In his own comment, Klassisch Coach, Wakilu Wisdom expressed his disappointment with team’s performance saying that his boys were wasteful in the front of goal.
“It was a disappointing match for me because my intention was to lift the cup having played well in the group stage, but today my boys were wasteful and not composed in the front of goal.Our opponents deserved the victory and the organisers did a wonderful job since beginning to an end,”he said.
In the third place match held earlier, FC Bethel defeated Ikorodu City 4-3 on penalty shootout after one goal apiece at the regulation time.
Tournament Convener,Liammed Gafar said the Jagaban Cup has lived up to expectations in terms of standard of play and organisation and described this year’s edition well organised.
Gafar who doubles as a Chairman of Lagos State Football Association LSFA disclosed that the purpose of the tournament is talent discovery and football development.
He however congratulated the winners and other participating teams for their impressive performance.A total of eight teams took part in the competition such as 36 Lion FC, Ikorodu City, Smart City, Klassisch FA, Mavlon FC,SGFC Athletics,Broad City and FC Bethel.