BY SUNDAY AKINTOYE
Chairman of Ikorodu City Football Club, Doherty Sanmi has expressed his displeasure over the unimpressive performance of his players against a grassroots club, Power of The Cross FC in the round of 32 of the Lagos State Challenge Cup popularly known as Lagos FA Cup.
Ikorodu City laboured to beat Power of The Cross FC 2-1 on Thursday morning in the round of 32 at the legacy pitch of the national stadium, Surulere.
The last-minute winning goal scored by Chineme Chinonso came as a relief for the fans of the premier league club who watched the pulsating tie under tension.
Despite the team’s victory, Sanmi while addressing the players blasted them for their disgraceful outing saying that he was highly disappointed with the player’s commitment to the match and their poor performance on the field of play.
“I am highly disappointed in you(players) what you guys played today was totally below expectations and I am not happy despite your late winning goal,” said Sanmi who left the match venue with annoyance.
Sanmi who delivered a wake-up call message to his players felt that their opponents were not their rivals and suprised how his players laboured all through before they got the winning goal.
Meanwhile, Ikorodu City would play Kwara United on Sunday in an NPFL league match at the Onikan Stadium and Sanmi was not happy when he saw his players struggle for fitness against a grassroots club in the Lagos FA Cup.
In his own comment, the Coach of Power of The Cross, Ambrose Duru applauded his players for giving their opponents a good fight saying that a minute of lack of concentration cost them defeat.
“I am proud of my boys even though we narrowly lost to the defending champions. I came to this tournament to beat them unfortunately my boys lost a minute of concentration in the added time which cost us defeat.
“After our exit from Lagos FA Cup, we would return home and prepare for Badagry League and Rising Star League which begin soon. It was a good outing for us in Lagos FA Cup because we could give our opponents a run for their money throughout the encounter,” he said.
In other results, Nathaniel Boys walloped Seamoriow FA 6-0, and Messiah FC lost 4-1 to FC Bethel in a penalty shootout after 3-3 at the regulation time.
