... Charges MFM FC to clinch NNL promotion ticket next season

Organizers of the nation’s prestigious pre-season football tourney, Ogunjobi Gold Cup have sent a congratulatory message to Remo Stars after they picked a ticket to fly Nigeria’s flag in the CAF Confederation Cup come next season.

General Coordinator of the tournament, Tunde Shamsudeen tasked the Sky Blue Stars management to set a record, by becoming the first NPFL team to win the Confederation Cup.

“Congratulations to a business mogul, biggest private investor of the beautiful game in Nigeria and a fine gentleman, who’s humility is second to none, Honorable Kunle Soname.

“He has proven to critics of the NPFL that private investors can achieve successes investing in club football, with Remo Stars as an example having secured the CAF Confederations Cup qualification after three attempts in Nigeria’s topflight division.

“CAF Confederation Cup debutant Remo Stars, crowned champions of the 9th edition of the Ogunjobi Gold Cup in Ikenne, is a huge boost to the tourney. 

“Ogunjobi Gold Cup has once again made a bold statement, as not just a pre-season tournament but a platform were champions are made.

“We are delighted to be part of Remo Stars achievements, as they have surpassed their fans expectations and truly deserved to clinch the CAF ticket.

“I want to use this medium to charge the Remo Stars not to make the numbers in the tournament but be one of the teams contending for the trophy.

“The Confederations Cup, since it was formed in 2004, only Sunshine Stars made it to the semi-finals in their first attempt in 2011. So Remo Stars surpassing the feat.

“A special thanks to Soname for bringing continental football to Ikenne, as the town will soon be agog with best of African club football and fans visiting, thus projecting the rich history of the people of Ikenne.”

Meanwhile, Shamsudeen also expressed his relief after Niger Tornadoes and Shooting Stars retained their NPFL status after a turbid season.

“Our last edition semi-finalist, Tornadoes and runners-up Shooting Stars distinguished themselves as fighters, as they fought hard till the very end of the season to secure their status in the topflight division come next season.”

As regards MFM FC, sad the Olukoya Boys got relegated to the Nigeria National League, that doesn’t mean end of the world for the club, rather a new challenge. 

Going by the words of Fetus Allen after the season ending game against Nasarawa United.

“We are confirmed relegated but that is not the end of life. I am confident that we will be back in the NPFL very soon. This is one of the pendulums of life. We just have to face it.”

This we have charged the MFM FC management, as all hands must be on deck to see they gain promotion as it’s a different ball game in the NNL.

Local Organizing Committee of the maiden edition of Taiwo Ogunjobi Memorial U-15 Football Tournament and Awards Night billed for Tuesday August 16, through Sunday August 21, 2022, has released a list of Eight (8) Sub-Committees.

The forum of all the South West States Football Associations under the aegis of the Western Nigeria Football Forum (WNFF) are using the U-15 championship to immortalise the former General Secretary of the Nigerian Football Association (NFA), late Chief Taiwo Joseph Ogunjobi.

In the eight (8) Sub-Committees of the tournament, General Coordinator of the nation’s prestigious domestic league pre-season tourney, Tunde Shamsudeen, has been listed into two Sub-Committees.

Shamsudeen who hosts yearly the Ogunjobi Gold Cup Preseason Tournament was listed as the Chairman of Award/Media & Publicity Committee and a member of Entertainment Committee, while the Media Director of Osun United, Seyi Akanni was named in the media team.

Shamsudeen and Akanni are to bring to play their solid years of media experience and sports reportage, as they are to oversee the Award/Media & Publicity Committees with Prince Dauda Abimbola.

Prince Adeogun Isiaka alongside Tunde Shamsudeen, Odun Festus and Tunde Adebiyi
are to make plans as regards entertainment committee.

In the other Sub Committees, Hon.Rawlings Oyebayo and Olufemi Bankefa are to deliberate on matters concerning Security.

The Referee Committee, has the trio of Hon. Adio Suleiman, Mr. Latunde Gbenga and Mr Tunde Adebiyi.

Honourable Adio Suleiman who is Chairman of the Ref’s Committee is also the Chairman of a three-man Finance Committee with Engr. Aina Kehinde and Mr Sola Fayoyiwa.

The Medical Committee consist of Alhaji Omolaja Najeem, Hon.Rawlings Oyebayo and Elder Adelowo.

Furthermore, members the championship Local Organizing Committee (LOC) are members of the Facilities/Pitch/Accommodation and Disciplinary Sub-Committees.

Recall, the WNFF led by the First Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Barrister Seyi Akinwumi, last weekend disclosed that in honour of late Ogunjobi and what he stood for during his lifetime, the events is aimed to promote youth and grassroots football development and celebrate distinguished sports stakeholders in the region.

The General coordinator of the
Nigeria’s first pre-season tournament, Tunde Shamsudeen has revealed that ABS Ilorin FC started training for the new season few days before the competition and no one would ever thought they will emerge champions.

In an interview with the Sportspro News correspodent, Shamsudeen noted that against all odds ,the pre-season spectacle has continue to grow from strength to strength; making it a brand to reckon with in the football industry.

“Looking at the pedigree of the tourney, it is not just prestigious but a brand in our domestic football and that’s why we are Nigeria’s first pre-season tournament”
“We are just done with the 8th edition and didn’t lack quality and standard when you look at the teams that participated in it over the years” former Osun United Media handler added.

Ogunjobi Gold cup was formally launched for clubs in the three tier leagues of Nigeria namely Nigeria Professional Football League, Nigeria National League and Nationwide League One.

Interestingly,no team since the first edition of the tournament has been able to defend the trophy. This, could be a pointer to the fact that it has always been competitive and challenging for all the participants.

For records, The most glamorous tourney started in 2013 with Sunshine Stars FC winning the maiden edition. And as the defunct Sharks FC clinched the second edition, Kano Pillars and Lobi Stars FC won the third and fourth outing respectively

Kano Pillars were able to win the fifth edition the second time in three years while Sunshine Stars FC ,Niger Tornadoes went ahead to hauled the gold medals in the sixth and seventh edition.

However, It was intriguing to see ABS Ilorin FC winning the just concluded edition under their new gaffer, Anthony Encho. The team which was dominated by young players showed high level of determination as they came from two goals down in the final to defeat the relatively physical Gombe United 3 goals to 2.

” I never thought ABS will qualify from the group going by the fact that they just resumed few days before the tournament.
Sincerely, they’re the most underrated team and I never believed they will win the tourney”, The former soccer star newspaper writer reflected.

Apparently staged for ten days, with over three hundred players taking part and twenty three  matches on the fixtures,  the absence of some big teams in this year’s edition didn’t really pose any threat to the ideals, values and standard of the tournament.

“Threats? Nope!(sic) This tournament remain the best organized in the country and that is the reason why we have no fewer than 16 partners; namely, TJO Foundation, Bet9ja GreatDynamic Talent, Owu Sportswear, KAO Concept, Haggai Sportswear, Sportspro News, Play Sportswear, House of Prayer FA, Olansile FA, 11th Media Global Concept, Grande Sports, Phreestyle Sports, Dejavu Communication, Abraysports FC, Matchroom Sports, and Naija League”.

Explaining why some teams pulled out of participation, he said; ” it was because of the initial date postponment as a result of the Kwara State Government declaration of 24-hour curfew  on the state owing to the spate of violence and criminality that trailed the End SARS protests in the state capital where some public facilities were looted by hoodlums”.

As the first and one of the few pre-season tournament being organized by private individuals in the country, it has so far served as a platform for teams to blend thier squads together ahead of new football seasons.

“All clubs that participated in the tournament year in, year out have always done so well in the league season proper. The positive is not always to win the tourney but is an avenue for the clubs to perfect corrections before the season commences. Shamsudeen quipped.

Even with low budget, Gold cup was able to set yet another standard with new initiatives geared towards making it adventurous for participants and football enthusiasts. How?

The co-ordinator claimed that no fewer than ten of the matches was on the betting sites.This, according attest to the fact that they are a big brand as far as pre-season tournaments is concerned.

Giving the fact technology has come to ease our ways of living and engagements, the organizer also leveraged on the 21st century trend to improve the packages of the tourney as all matches were live- streamed from the Kwara State Sports Complex, Ilorin with Sportflames radio dishing out commentary, Grande sports were doing the best of live video broadcast couple with a massive blown social media drive.

Another unique feature of the tournament which distinguishes it  is the flexibility of the hosting stadia. From 2013 till date, Otunba Dipo Dina international stadium, Ijebu Ode has played host four times,Kwara state stadium complex ,three times while Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado-Ekiti and Ondo State Sports Complex, Akure had co-hosted it  once.

Challenges and optimism

“Major bane as been finance. We have a very low financial strength and we’re optimistic that before the next edition we must have gotten a major sponsor”.

Revealing that the next edition will be staged at Pantami Stadium in Gombe state, he assured they will continue to work hard to achieve the best of their dreams.

The trio were outstanding for the Saraki Boys’ triumph at the annual preseason tournament.

ABS came from a two goals deficit to beat Gombe United 3-2 on Friday in an entertaining final match, played at the Kwara Stadium Complex, Ilorin. 

Samuel Oyedeji, who scored a fantastic free kick in the semi-final against Kwara United on Wednesday, scored another against Gombe United and assisted the other two goals in Friday’s final. 

Two of the David Okoromi’s four goals to emerged the highest goal scorer came in the final against Gombe United.

Nasiru Toheeb put up a man of the match performance against Kwara United in the semi-final and stopped two penalties during the shoot out to help the Saraki Boys book a place in the final.

Toheeb, who was a little bit shaky in the early parts of the final later redeemed his image to help the Saraki Boys beat Gombe United.

It would be recalled that ABS had earlier defeated Gombe United in the preliminaries 2-1 before another triumph on Friday over coach Ali Zubair’s tutored side.

The Saraki Boys who beat the Savannah Scorpions 2-1 in the group stage made history as they came from two goals down to do a double against their opponents scoring three superb goals .

It was a thrilling first half that produced three goals within 18 minutes.

Gombe took the lead in the 13th minute after Ahmed Jimoh tucked home from close range in a goalmouth melee.

Yusuf Abdulazeez took advantage of ABS FC poor defending to double the lead for the Savannah Scorpions, smashing the ball into the net from a rebound in the 24th minute.

The Saraki Boys made a superb come back to the game after Samuel Oyedeji scored from a brilliant free kick to make it 2-1.

ABS FC took the game to Gombe United in the second half as David Okoromi headed home from Oyedeji’s corner to put the scoreline at 2-2 in the 56th minute.

At the hour of the game, Okoromi put the icing on the cake for the Saraki Boys scoring his fifth goal of this tourney and a third goal for his team from another assist provided by Oyedeji. 

It was little too late for the Savannah Scorpions to do a meaningful come back as the match official signalled the end of 90 minutes to the delight of the new champions.

It was a fantastic moment for ABS FC trio of Toheeb, Okoromi and Oyedeji as they respectively took home the Best Goalkeeper, Top Scorers and Most Valuable Player awards.

Other VIP guest expected are Chutchill Oliseh, the President of FC Ebedei of Sagamu and elder brother of former Super Eagles coach and captain, Sunday Oliseh.

Chairman of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Rev. Samuel Ikpea who donated a giant trophy and medals to the nation’s first pre-season tourney is also among top football personalities for the epic final.

Chairman Kwara State Football Association, Malam Idris Musa Abdullah Thuraya, Secretary NPFL Club Owners Association, Alloy Chukwuemeka, Vice Chairman Gombe United, Alhaji Abubakar Abubakar, Chairman Kwara United Kumbi Titiloye, are among other dignitaries that are expected to grace the finals.

 The 10-day football fiesta will come to its finale on Friday November 20, 2020 as Gombe United will lock horns with ABS FC for the nation’s prestigious pre-season crown at the Kwara State Sports Complex in Ilorin.  

General Coordinator of the tourney, Tunde Shamsudeen says all teams that participated in the tourney benefited from the platform provided them to prepare for the new season, as it offered teams to have a first hand assessment of their old and new players and also the strength and weakness of their squads.

Individual awards will also be presented to top players and team who distinguished themselves in the tournament.

The Savannah Scorpions keeps a date with ABS FC whom they lost 2-1 to in the group stage.

The former Wikki Tourists gaffer told Gold Cup Media after his Scorpions stung Remo Stars 7-6 on spot kicks.

“We can win the but am after how my new and old players can play as a team with a view to getting the desired results.

“Remo Stars are a young side, mobile and off course a good team. We took time to study their past games in the tourney and noticed they attack from the flanks and their captain is a fantastic player. He is key to the team as he always starts the attack, so it was best to mark him out.

“That we did effectively and it slowed their pace. We should have scored, Remo Stars had the crossbar to thank on two occasions.

“The game was tough as predicted and opened my eyes on something new. I had not thought of practicing penalty kicks but with what played out against Remo Stars, I think I have good spot kick takers. So I won’t panic when the need arises.”

“Am not under pressure to win the Ogunjobi Gold Cup as all four teams that came this far were good as winning it. 

“For Gombe United; we will be ready for the game against ABS FC, that I can assure you.”

“We know their strength and weakness having beaten them 2-1 in the group stage.

“My lads went into the semi-final with a clear mind set of give the game against Kwara United their best shot.

“We defended well in the first half then conceded a cheap goal early in the second half. Kudos to my players as they responded scoring the equalizing goal and from that moment, we knew we could beat Kwara United.

“The team pressed further and went up 2-1. Kwara United then made it 2-2 in the closing minutes of the game and the die was cast as we headed straight to penalty shot out. 

“I was delighted with my boys performance and also I had much belief in my goalkeeper Nasiru Toheed going into  penalties.  At the end, proved himself in the shoot out scoring the first penalty and saving the last kick from Kwara United.”

Speaking further, “The Ogunjobi Gold Cup has proven to be the platform for teams to prepare for the new season.

“We didn’t really practice during the period of COVID-19 lockdown, I just assembled the team after the ban on football was lifted.

“So am using this period to blend the team and also looking at the new players we have scouted as we get set for the new season,” said the Cameroonian.

The Ilorin Derby lived up to its hype as it ended in a 4-goal thriller, thus needing penalty shoot out to decide who goes through to Friday’s finale.
 The first 30 minutes of the game was a drab one as both goalkeepers didn’t have much to do as there were no real threats at goal.

The real chance then came in the 35th for Kwara United but ABS FC goalie Nasiru Toheeb stood tall to deny Chinedu Ufere the first goal of the game with a point blank save while Issa Mogaji put his effort wide from the rebound.

It was then Kwara United against Toheeb, as six minutes later, Ufere with another glorious chance to give the Harmony Boys the lead but his low drive shot was put to the corner by lanky shot stopper, who had his reflexes to thank for the fabulous save.

Adeleke Ajibola should have made it 1-0 in the 43rd minute but his left foot shot at goal was not strong enough to beat Toheeb.

ABS FC in the 45th with their first real chance almost shocked Kwara United after Kale Aliami rattled the crossbar with a sublime volley, that left goalkeeper Iwu in ewe.

A rejuvenated Kwara United took the game to ABS FC as they got the breakthrough in the 46th minute after Abiola Lateef nodded home a cross from Alamoyo Sodiq to put scores at 1-0.

The Saraki Boys leveled the scoreline with a superb goal from a set-piece from Samuel Oyedeji in the 61st minute.

Oyedeji’s goal proved to be the tonic ABS FC as then took the lead in the 76th minute after David Okoromi deflected a cross from  Oyedeji into Kwara United goal for 2-1.

Sensing defeat, Kwara United went for the jugular in the 81st minute as Shola Oketade made it 2-2 after his shot at the edge of box beat Toheeb in goal.

The game then went to penalty shoot out as no goal was added to the four goals scored in regular time.

Goalkeeper Toheeb turned hero after he saved Kwara Utd first and last spot kicks to send his team to their first ever final of the Ogunjobi Gold Cup.

It will be a second meeting between ABS FC and Gombe United in the tourney as the Saraki Boys were 2-1 victorious when they met in the group stages.

The tourney has proven to be a goal feast, recording an average of 2.5 goals per match and with no game ending in a barren draw.

The strike force of Osuagwu Victor and Yussuf Ibrahim are joint top scorers of the nation’s first and prestigious pre-season tourney having scored three (3) goals each and all Remo Stars six (6) goals.

Daniel Barnabas who has two Ogunjobi Gold Cup medals in his trophy cabinet, having won the tourney in the colours of Lobi Stars 2016 and Sunshine Stars 2018, is also gunning for the Golden Shoe award having scored two (2) goals for Gombe United.

ABS FC David Okorom is also on the chat with two (2) goals.

The quartet of Osuagwu, Ibrahim, Barnabas and Okorom could add to their goal tallies as their teams go head-to-head in the semi-finals.

Favorites Remo Stars will be having its hands full against Gombe United in the first semis billed for 8am

Wednesday’s second semi-final is an Ilorin Derby between arch rivala ABS FC and Kwara United. The cracker is set for 4pm local time.

Meanwhile Remo Stars were the best attacking side scoring six (6) goals while Kwara United were the defensive team after it shipped in a goal in the shocking lone goal loss to the Sky Blues Stars from Ikenne. 

36 Lion showed that they are the rookies of the tourney. Making their debut, the Nation-Wide League One (NLO) team  conceded six (6) goals and didn’t score in the tourney.