After Magate five-star showing against Buruj FC on MatchDay 6 of the Nationwide League One (NLO) season at the Strong Tower Pitch in Ikorodu, General Manager of the club Comrade Owolabi Aleshinloye (OwoSports) says the lads are gradually finding their form.

A goal from Taiwo Mathew in added time of first half and that from Osunbiyi Wasiu, Salvador Oladimeji, captain Seun Adepoju and Ajetunmobi Adewale in the second half compounded the woos of Buruj FC and was first 3 points for Magate away from home.

“Despite taking most of our chances, it was a well deserved victory for Magate as the players appeared to have come into the game wearing their scoring boots,” said Aleshinloye.

“Not taking anything away from Buruj, their players put up a good fight as they kept pushing. Though they had their goalie to thank as he made a few superb saves to stop us from putting five goals past him.

“This could well mean our biggest scoreline so far in the campaign and another clean sheet for the goalkeeping department but there is still room for improvement.

“Interesting fact about the team is that the nine goals we have scored this season have come from the defenders and strike force, as any of our midfielder is yet to score.

“I expect a lot from the lads in the middle of the pack even as I know quite well that they have provided much of the assists, I still need them to score.”

Comrade Aleshinloye, who also is a Sports Journalist and an On Air Personalities (Sports) on Radio gave a thumbs up to the NLO Secretariat for ensuring that officiating in the nation third-tier domestic league is not compromised.

“At the Strong Tower Pitch on Sunday, two away victories were recorded after Madiba pipped Real Sapphire by a lone goal while Magate put five goals past Buruj.

“It shows the NLO wants football at the grassroot to thrive as this is the bedrock of the different national male football teams.”

Magate will be looking to consolidate on the victory as they host Broad City on MatchDay 7 at the Alade Stadium in Ajasa-Command on Sunday.

Salvador Oladimeji says Magate’s victory over Emmydinho on MatchDay 5 of the Nationwide League One (NLO) is the right tonic the players needed going forward.

Speaking after the win, “Delighted to have found the net as it was my first in three games. Soothing relief for the team after the bitter lesson learnt in the 2-0 loss to Lekki United on MatchDay 4.

“The victory was the tonic the team needs going forward as we countdown to the game against another tough side, Buruj of Ikorodu.”

Salvador was in his best form in the game as he opened his goal account with the first goal in the 2-1 victory over the visitors.

It was Magate second win of the campaign and was full of suspense as it was a game of two halves that saw two penalties awarded to both teams at each half.

The attacking combo of Salvador and captain Seun Adepoju in the opening quarter of an hour was tough to contain by Emmydinho’s defence line. On 16th minute Salvador found the net making the most from an assist from Gbolade Remilekun and Magate led by a goal.

A minute to the half hour mark, Emmydinho were forced to concede a penalty after a late challenge on Adepoju in the box. The captain made no mistake sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to double the lead for Magate as he also registered his first goal of the season.

The last 15 minutes of the first half was much of defending from both teams, as Magate
finally went on break with a two goal cushion after the match official from Oyo State signalled end of the half.

The visitors meant business in the second half as they should have scored within 10minutes of play but Magate had goalkeeper Fayemi Joseph and defence duo of Osunbiyi Wasiu and Taiwo Mathew to thank for been careful defending.

Magate were left to rue their missed chances as the team was give a reality check when Emmydinho was awarded a penalty in the 62nd minute.

Emmydinho striker, fluffed the chance to making it 2-1 as he put his effort over the woodwork for a goal kick, to the anguish of his bench and relief for Magate.

As the game entered that last few minutes of the game, with Joseph thinking he had earned his first clean sheet of the season, only for that joy to be cut shot in added time as Emmydinho bundled the ball into his net from a goal mouth scramble for 2-1.

Magate have now claimed 6points from 12 and will be guest to Buruj FC of Ikorodu on MatchDay 6.

The MatchDay 2 fixture at the Alade Stadium, Ajasa-Command in Lagos, lived up to it’s hype as both teams were evenly matched in the game but Magate could have been pained by rueing their missed clear cut chances.

Magate should have won the game in the first half but no thanks to Jossy’s shot stopper who made some quality reflex saves in the game.

The combo of Seun Adepoju and Tijani Yusuf, coupled with good runs by Adetunmobi Olawale, Salau Nurudeen and crosses from Moses Kehinde proved to be a real threat to Jossy defence line in the opening 45minutes, but the lads from Surulere were clean with their defending.

Goalkeeper Adeola Johnson was in his best form as he kept his first clean sheet of the season as he thrice denied Jossy strike force from finding his goal.

The goal post was also the amazing graces from both goalkeepers after the ball hit the woodwork at opposite ends in both halves.

It was an improved second half performance by Magate after Coach Farouk Yusuf made his five substitutions to bolster the team. One of the substitute, Olatunji Sikiru was an instant performer as he should have given Magate the lead in the 57th minute.

After cleverly beating his opponents defence line, Sikiru’s low drive shot from 20yards was parried for a fifth corner kick Jossy’s goalie.

In the one hour mark, Adetunmobi Olawale thought he had opened scoring for Magate but his shot from an assist from Adepoju, glided inch away from the goal post, to the anguish of his teammates, coaches and a hand full of fans.

With eight minutes to end the game and with the thoughts that the spoils would be shared, that was not to be as second half substitute Wasiu Osunbiyi turned match hero in the 82nd minute after he stylishly turned away from his marker inside the box, jumped highest to nod the ball into net from a free kick.

Magate will by the end of this week know its next foe as the NLO Secretariat will make available the next fixtures.

Coach Yusuf Farouk has revealed that his Magate FC side has no special plans for Destiny FC, as both teams lock horns in the sixth fixture of the Nationwide League One (NLO) Division One season on Saturday at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne.

Margate who ended Zenith Emperor’s four matches unbeaten run with on 3-1 win on Thursday, now has seven points from five games.

Farouk in a pre-match chat after his team’s last training session on Friday evening said:
“No special plans for Destiny FC, rather I have told my players to go into game to show character and play them with the same zeal they exhibited against Zenith Emperor.

“You recall that Zenith Emperor were tagged one of the favourite in the group, so getting three points from them was a thing of excitement for me and my lads but it didn’t come easy.

“The victory meant a lot to the team as it was the right tonic we needed going forward.

“Destiny FC are a tough team no doubt but my team has all it takes to checkmate them on field of play.”

In the last game against Zenith Emperor, the trio of Akinropo Akeem, Adeolu Adelakun and Adekunle Adedimeji were on the goals scorer’s sheet as they scored their first goal of the season.

Zenith Emperor got an early penalty owning to an hand ball in the box but was missed by Okunola Lekan.

On the dot if 12th minute, Magate’s Akeem then punished Zenith Emperor for their penalty miss, slotting the ball into the net from a rebound save by goalkeeper Yusuf Rasheed.

Seven minutes later Adelakun took advantage of a lose ball as doubled the lead with an easy chip over the onrushing Zenith Emperor’s goalie inside the box.

In the 31st minutes, Lekan pulled one back for Zenith scoring his fifth goal of the season after he deflected low drive beat Destiny who was in goal for Magate.

In the 52nd minute Adedimeji put the icing on the cake for Magate as he scored to make it 3-1.

Big Daddy Academy were the brightest of the two sides in the first 15th Minutes of the encounter going 2-0 up after nine minutes, forcing Coach Umar Farouq into an early defensive substitution for Magate FC.

After going 2-0 up Big Daddy Academy took their foot of the pedal as the NLO side stepped up the tempo with Adebayo Rasaq reducing the deficit in the 35th minutes as he headed home from close range.

Big Daddy Academy regained their two cushion just after Magate had pulled one back following a defensive hola, but Magate reduced the goal tally through John Daniel coverted from the spot to make it 3-2 just before the break, after captain Akinboboye Abiola had fouled just inside the opponent box.

Magate began the second half a more improved side, as Adebayo Rasaq completed his brace as he headed home from Francis cross off the conner kick to restore parity. The home team came close to taking the lead minutes after as Akinboboye Abiola’s strike hit the woodwork after dazzling past three defenders before unleashing a sublime strike just at the edge of the box only for the woodwork to denied him on that occasion.

Akinboboye Abiola finally got his goal late into the game as he headed in a deflated cross from Shuib Ibrahim to give Magate the lead in what proved to be the winner, 4-3 it ended.

It is the first Victory for the NLO side after the post covid19 break after having played a 1-1 draw against Ileogbo United few days ago.

It wasn’t a good start for Magate army who were making a return to the pitch after eight months due to the covid19 break as they were forced to chase the game during the opening twenty minutes of the game.

The NLO side however grew into the game and was rewarded for their efforts as John Daniel fired his team ahead in the 29th minutes off a perfect low cross from Aliu Abubakar to tap into the net.

Magate looked to be cruising away with a slim win but Ileogbo spoilt the party as they scored the equalising goal in the 82nd minutes following an error from the backline to make it 1-1 as it ended all square.

Speaking after the match was the gaffer Magate football club, Coach Umar Farouq who is not satisfied with the outcome of the game but expressed confident following the brilliant performance of his lads.

“I can’t really say I’m satisfied, at the same time its not a bad results considering the opposition we were up against they are equally a good side, as you can see it a new team that has just been assembled together within a short time you can’t really expect much from them, but I believe with time we will get better results.

The coach who also spoke about the loopholes in the team as he believed there are lots of work to be done before the season kicks off, why also categorically stating that the team is not ready yet for the new season.

“With the team presently we don’t have a play maker we don’t have a top striker tho with the present players we can get better there is always room for improvements, even if we don’t have new players with level of their performance today they’ve Really shown that they are ready to work, we go back to our drawing board and make amends and hopefully in the next game we will get better,”

“I must confess we are not ready yet for the commencement of the season, but with time we will get better” he concluded.

The screening programme which began on the 2nd of November 2020, lasted for two weeks saw a massive numbers of turned out as talented footballers across the country came out to showcase their talents.

Maximum number of forty five footballers came for the screening programme which was held at the club’s training ground, Supreme Distilleries field in Iju-Ota, Ogun state, at the end it was twenty nine who were picked after having impressed head coach Umar Farouq.

Names of players selected are as follows;
Eduwoh Victor, Anuoluwapo Mohmoh, Ogunleye Habib, Adebayo Rasaq, Sunday Emmanuel, Kelechi Osondu, Ano Nurudeen, Aliu Abubabarcar, Taiwo Sulaimon, Gbolahan Adejumo, Ayomide Emmanuel, Taiwo Ahmed, Adekunle Adedimeji, Akintunde Mendy, Alade Emmanuel, Yusuf Usman, Adeyemo Kayode, Odu Koffi, Farouq Olayinka, Shualbu Ibrahim, Irivbemi Francis, Arinola Olalekan, Akinboboye Abiola, Oluseye Babajide, Marouf Ademola, Samuel Ayeni, Lola Oluwasemi, Nwaufoko Wisdom.

Addressing the team shortly after the training session was the General Manager, Comrade Owolabi Aleshinloye, who charged the lads to always be at their best and ensure to always put in 100 percent commitment during training sessions should they aim to improve their game.

Preparation proper for the Nationwide League One Season commence from Monday as high profile friendly matches to put the team in shape has also been lined up.