STI FAILED TO DEFEND TITLE, AS LEADWAY MAKES HISTORY
The question on every body’s lips before the final day of the Nigeria Insurance Games 2014 was, which team will emerge as the first team in the history of the insurance industry to win the trophy twice, also everyone looked on whether STI will set a new record by becoming the first team ever to successfully defend the title.
THE FINAL DAY
The round robin nature of this year’s tournament made it so dicey. That any of NEM, Leadway or STI can win the competition. Leadway and NEM insurance went into their last round robin matches with the mindset that a win for them can guarantee them the trophy. While defending champions STI relied on mother luck and permutations which might swing things their way.
LEADWAY 2-1 STI
Leke Tomiotan (5mins), Folorunsho Sesan (25mins) , Bashir Abdulahi (15mins STI)
The first minute yellow card awarded to STI’S Emmanuel Kugbuyi set the tone for the direction of the match. The first match between Leadway and STI was a ding dong affair, obviously the match of the day. It’s a match worthy of champions as both teams played their hearts out. The GOD of soccer was also interested in the outcome of the match as reports of rain from elsewhere in the city didn’t disturb the proceedings of the day .from the blast of the whistle LEADWAY took the match to STI but early incursion in by Leadway was met resisted by the Jimoh Mabinuori led defence. LEADWAY’S constant pressure on STI finally resulted into a goal when Leke Tomiotan scored the opener in the 5th minute of play. This goal spurred STI into action as they level matters with a Bashir Abdullahi 15th minute equalizer. 10 minutes later Leadway took the lead again when 9 shirt Folorunsho Sesan slotted home to give the LEADWAY the much needed advantage.STI tried to get back into the game but the central defence of LEADWAY held sway snuffed life out of all STI‘s incursion .the half ended 2-1.
The second half started the same way it ended. The blistering pace of the match made the crowd shout for more held the spectators in hysteria but the match didn’t produce any further goal. So it ended 2-1 in favour of LEADWAY.
NEM 4- 0 ANCHOR
Abisogun balogun, Osinowo Jide, Daniju Lateef (2)
The second match on the day was predictable, a NEM win was on the cards but by how many goal? NEM had their work cut out as the outcome of last match between Leadway and STI means that they have to surpass LEADWAY’S impressive goal difference which stands at +6 while NEM had +1.NEM must score 6 goals to win the competition. From the blast of the whistle NEM went on rampage, attacking endlessly the anchor goal.it took 10 minutes before the floodgate open. ABISOYE Balogun put NEM ahead while captain fantastic Osinowo increased the tally 10 minutes later. NEM didn’t let up and on the 22nd minute Daniju Lateef was on hand to score NEM’S 3rd goal. The NEM supporters sang and danced while the rest of the Leadway contingent watched on as their title hopes faded.3 goals in 22 minutes ordinarily nothing can stop the moving train called NEM and 2 minutes to recess Daniju Lateef popped up to scored his brace. The first half ended with NEM on the ascendancy.
No mortal man could have predicted the outcome of the second half of the match for the spectators and all NEM supporters the signs were on the wall “it’s going to be a rout”, while the Leadway team and their supporters were crest fallen. They feared the worst would happen when the second half of hostilities commences. Soccer they say is never mathematics, so in football the almighty expectation of fans and teams alike may not always come to pass.
After the referee blew the final whistle the NEM team and their bench were shell shocked, totally in disbelief that their high flying team couldn’t even score a goal during the second half when they needed two goal to wrest the trophy off LEADWAY, the spectators were in amazement, nobody could have predicted the outcome of the second stanza of the match between former champions NEM and debutant Anchor. The second half ended nil-nil. Anchor massively changed their tactics in the second half and for could have reduced the tally and registered their first goal in the competition but for the agility of the NEM goalie who saved Anchors penalty kick.
Thus Leadway assurance became the first team in the history of the Nigeria insurance games to win the trophy twice. They won the inaugural edition in 2009.
Fela is the Co-founder of MediaVision Limited .
