BY SUNDAY AKINTOYE
Fans and coaching crew of Lucky Football Club were in jubilation mood on Sunday evening after their darling team defeated Joint Football Club to lift Oba Akran Cup in Badagry.
Lucky proved bookmakers wrong by defeating favourite team, Joint FC 4-3 through the penalty shootout after barren draw at the regulation time.
The much anticipated final held on Sunday at the French Village sports center, Badagry, Lagos.
A total of 65 teams took part in the competition organised by Badagry Divisonal Football Association, BDFA.
Reacting to the victory, Lucky Coach, Chucks Nwaigwe was delighted to see his boys emerged as champions and described the tournament a tough one for them.
“The journey was so rough.When the tournament kicked off, nobody gave us a chance but today we shamed the critics by emerging the champions.
“Our final against Joint FC was a toughest match but we were lucky according to our name to have won through penalties.I congratulate my boys for the job well done and i thank the organisers for organising a memorable and colourful final,”he said.
In his own comment, Joint Coach, Nwachukwu Nonso commended his boys for their good performance despite defeat saying that they were unlucky during the penalty shootout.
Chairman Badagry Divisional Football Association, Dr Martins Osondu thanked BDFA members, coaches and sponsors for their unalloyed support given the tournament and he particularly thanked vice chairman of Lagos State Football Association (LSFA), Liameed Olawale Gafar for his support towards the tournament.
Osondu also extended his appreciation to the cup donor, Oba Akran of Badagry and his palace chiefs for their commitment and dedication to the tournament and noted that the competition was a huge success because of the support he received from the football stakeholders and enthusiasts in Badagry and its environs.
“What can i say than to thank our sponsors, football stakeholders who gave us their support throughout the tournament. This is year’s Oba Akran Cup recorded a huge success and i believe that the next edition would be better than this.
“Let me use this medium to congratulate all the teams that took part in the tournament particularly the champions that came to the tournament as a giant killers. They played well and deserved to be crowned as champions,” he said.
Meanwhile Frotlish won the third place match after defeating Emmanuel FC of Ajegunle 4-0.
Salaudeen Wasiu, a goalkeeper for Joint FC received the most valuable player awardof the tournament, while Elijah Ogunbile won highest goal scorer award having scored eight goals so far in the tournament.
The champions went home with a giant trophy and the sum of N250,000, while first runners up and third position received N150,000 and N100,000 respectively.
