BY SUNDAY AKINTOYE
It was a celebration galore for the Lagos Bulls Rugby Football Club following their remarkable performance displayed at the just concluded The Golden 9’s Rugby League Tournament which held on Sunday at the Navy Barrack playground, Ajegunle, Lagos.
The one day event was put together by Ibudo Rugby Football Association in collaboration with Shakirat Wuraola Hussain.
In the male category of Rugby league, Lagos Bulls defeated Rhino RLC 20-4 and narrowly beat R2 Finesse 12-8 to emerge as overall winners on the league table.
The male category featured four teams as Lagos Bulls won all their two matches to emerge as overall champions.Other team competed are Kings RFC.
Two teams competed in the female category as Lagos Bulls demolished Golden Rugby Club 16-0 to emerge as champions in the category.
Reacting to the victory, Captain of Lagos Bulls in the male category, Olisa Kelvin expressed gratitude to God for the hard fought victory and attributed their success as a result of teamwork, hard working and commitment of the players throughout the tournament.
“It was a good outing for us and it was a wonderful experience for my teammates.Let me say our last match against R2 Finesse was a tough one and thanked goodness that we overcame them.I thank the organisers of this tournament because a tournament like this really helped us to keep fit ahead of future engagements,”he said.
While Captain of R2 Finesse, Collins Arogunjo admitted that opponents was a good side and commeded his teammates for putting on a good performance in the league.
He said the league has brought the best out of his teammates and thanked the organisers who made it possible to organise a league that keep the game of rugby growing in the city of Lagos.
“I was not too disappointed for our defeat but we were able to showcase our talents and gave our opponents a run for their money.Of course we eventually lost to them but we also won our first match.It was a good outing for us and i hope that we would do better in subsequent competitions,”he said.
On the other hands, Lagos Bulls Captain in the female category,Rukayat Jimoh said the league really brought the best out of her teammates and commended the organisers for the Initiative.She aslo urged the organisers to hold grassroots league on regular basis to keep them fit for future challenges.
In her own remark, the match cordinator, Wuraola Hussain who doubles as vice president of Ibudo Rugby Football Association hailed the participating teams for their impressive performance saying that the league had recorded a huge success.
“What i saw today showed that there is future in Nigerian Rugby football.I must confess that all the teams did extremely well but a league like this, there must be a champions.I congraulate Lagos Bulls for winning the league and i also commend the participants for their doggedness and commitment to make the league a competitive and a memorable one,”she concluded.
Meanwhile Kelvin Okpowo adjuged as Higest Goal scorer and most valuable player of the league, while Adaeze Innocent won same award in the female category.
In his own assessment, Coach of Lagos State Rugby team, Samson Okeowo also commended Ibudo Rugby Football Academy and Hussain for this initiative and pointed out that the league has brought some players to the limelight.
He however urged the corporate bodies and other rugby stakeholders to channel their resources by sponsoring a grassroots rugby league or competitions to keep the players fit ahead of future national International competitions.
Winners were given cash prize and trophy,while other teams also received gift items for their participation.
