BY SUNDAY AKINTOYE
Some of the football fans and officials of Prince Kazeem Eletu Football Club have continued to shower praises on the team following their glorious exit from the ongoing Lagos State Challenge Cup popularly known as the Lagos FA Cup.
Prince Kazeem Eletu FC, the pride of Lagos bowed out on Sunday afternoon after they lost 7-6 on penalty shootout to Real Saphhire Football Club in the fourth round (round of 64) of the competition.
The pulsating tie which was held at the Maracana stadium, Ajegunle ended in a goalless draw in the full-time.
The two teams played purposeful football and fans enjoyed the best match so far in the Lagos FA Cup.
Eletu boys who were delighted to watch gave their opponents a run for their money. They were in control of the game from the blast of the whistle.
Eletu midfield was compact and its defence was well coordinated but unfortunately, they could not bury their chances created at regulation time which led to the penalty shootout.
Reacting to the defeat, Eletu Coach, Isreal Adegolu expressed his admiration for his players who had given their best since the competition kicked off.
Adegolu who was proud of his players despite their glorious exit said he was not disappointed for exiting in the round of 64 saying that the team had made history in the Lagos FA Cup.
“It was a good experience for us to play in Lagos FA Cup for the first time and the boys were able to give account of themselves.I am not disappointed for leaving the competition at this stage because our boys did well in all the four matches they played,” he said.
Speaking in the same vein, Club team manager, Eletu Muftau described the team’s performance as superb saying that the boys deserved commendations and praises.
“We left this competition with high level of satisfaction.Nobody gave us a chance to reach this stage but we are now forced to reckon with it when it comes to football in Lagos.
“Our boys made us proud in the Lagos FA Cup so there is reason for us to celebrate them despite our glorious exit,” he said.
Muftau described this year’s Lagos FA Cup as well organised and coordinated but reminded the organisers to do more in the area of officiating
“Honestly the organisers need to be commended for the organisation and venue for the matches but the only area I have observed is officiating.
“Our match against Real Saphhire was not too good in the area of officiating. We had a glaring penalty but the match officials ignored it and there are some calls during the match which was uncalled for,”he said.
Some of the Eletu fans who spoke to our correspondent also commended the players for the job well done.
While some fans described the team’s defeat as unfortunate, others felt that poor finishing was responsible for not winning the game in regulation time.
Some players and fans who could not control their emotions after the game burst into tears. It was an emotional feeling for some of them who felt that Prince Kazeem Eletu FC deserved to go beyond the next stage of the tournament.
