Gateway United FC got the better of Apex Krane FC, 2-0 in an NNL matchday four fixture played at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Kuto Abeokuta.

Goals from Haruna Salifu and Aderemi Yusuf were enough for the Hakeem Busari led side to record another win at home making it two wins in two on home soil for the season.

Gateway United got on the front foot early in the game. Odusina Sunkanmi got the first shot on target just as Dada Kayode took aim from range but saw his effort went agonisingly wide.

Another chance came for the home side in the 20th minute, this time from a set piece situation as goalkeeper saved Seyi Okeowo’s effort from 22 yards out.

There was a big moment for Gateway United when what looked like a penalty appeal for a foul on Olasunkanmi Odunsina in the area was given as a free kick by the referee. 

The opener would however come in the 28th minute when Haruna Salifu tucked home Seyi Okeowo’s well weighted in freekick from the left.

It appeared that goal annoyed the visitor’s technical bench as they made their first change when goalkeeper Reuben made way for Pibovei.

There was a lifeline for Apex Krane in the 37th  minute when the referee adjudged a handball in the area to give the away team a penalty.

Ibukun Araromi however dived to his right to make a big save as the score line remained 1-0 to the host.

Bakare Fatai also had a chance of his own when he cut into his right foot from the left and sent a curler in which the goalkeeper saved.

Gateway United kept dictating play as they got in their mood when Oronsaye James wriggled his way past two players and directed a defence splitting pass to Odusina Sunkanmi who couldn’t just hit the target as they first half ended 1-0 to the host.

The second half resumed with Apex Krane FC directing the tempo of play but Gateway Utd soon regained possession when Hakeem Busari ringed three changes as Ogunleye Sulaimon, Bakare Fatai and Haruna Salifu were all subbed out for Aderemi Yusuf, Nurudeen Araromi and Sadiq Rilwan.

In the 70th minute, Another chance went begging for the Ogun State outfit as Aderemi Yusuf tried to lob the goalkeeper but his effort went wide.

Another moment came for the referee when it appeared the goalkeeper of Apex Krane, Pibovei handled the ball outside the box but the ref waved play on after checking through the goalkeeper’s positioning.

Gateway Utd kept pressing and they were duly rewarded their second goal with 6mins left of normal time to play.

Olasunkanmi calmly controlled the ball, found Aderemi Yusuf in space, he kept his composure to cut into his right and slot into the back of the net. A goal from the training pitch, that!

There would be no further scare from Apex Krane as Gateway United saw out the win in their second home game of the season and have now amassed 7pts from a possible 9pts inside their last three matches.

Up next for the Hakeem Busari led team would be an Ogun State Derby when they face Remo Stars in Ikenne in an NNL matchweek 5 meeting.

Moses Ojewumi
Media Officer, Gateway United FC

Nigeria Football Association (NFF) says the country’s youth football will get to greater heights as our local coaches will tap in from the expertise shared at the football coaching clinic organised by Berackiah International and Abigol Football Management.

The Clinic which has been Integrated by the Nationwide League One (NLO) and aim to train, educate and develop Nigeria Coaches commenced at the Otunba Dipo Dina International Stadium in Ijebu-Ode,Ogun State.

Chairman Ogun State Football Association and NFF Executive Committee Member, Alhaji Ganiyu Majekodunmi who spoke on behalf of NFF First Vice-President Barrister Seyi and Chairman Nationwide League One, Alhaji Mohammed Alkali, pointed out the importance of the coaching clinic while stressing that gaining more knowledge should be paramount on the minds of the participants.

According to Majekodunmi: “We are very proud to have partnered with Nigeria Football Coaches Association and Berackiah/Abigol on this coaching clinic. The clinic is very good for Nigeria’s football. The NLO as a body is very committed to improving the league and as such will go the extra mile to ensuring capacity-building events like this holds regularly with support from Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Technical Department.

“The coaching clinic will be on technical football session to facilitate knowledge for our local coaches and to develop the quality of the Nationwide League One. We are confident that this will significantly improve the technical expertise of our local coaches.

“The clinic will equip our football coaches with the tactical knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the game and improve the overall quality of the Nationwide League One. I’m proud to say that the course content is very rich and encompassing and the resource persons are top notch from Italy and local content will be handled by Nigerian best instructors.

“Youth development is the future of football. We are committed to developing capacity at the grassroots level, with the Berackiah/Abigol Coaching Clinic, we’ll get the desired results. We will continue to collaborate with our partners, in ways to develop our football and our league.”

The clinic was boosted with the arrival of UEFA accredited top Italian football coaches, Roberto Bassi, Gian Marco Duina and Nigeria’s Matthew Olorunleke, who are the foreign resource persons while the local content will be handled by Nigeria’s best instructors, Chief Adegboyega Onigbinde, Siji Olagunju.

The Berackiah/Abigol Coaching Clinic is scheduled to hold across the country as thus; South West Zone began in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State from 25-29th of January.

South South and South East Zone holds in Asaba, Delta State from 1st-5th of February.

North Central and North East Zone holds in Lafia, Nasarawa State from 8th-12th February.