By 12 noon the crowd began to trickle into the Legacy pitch of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. At the time the finals kicked off, there was a mammoth crowd watching, singing, dancing and cheering their teams to victory.
The occasion was the finals of the Nigeria Bankers Games, 2016, after 6 weeks of intriguing sporting action.
The closing ceremony began on an interesting note with a novelty match between the Corporate Nigeria Games Hall of Famer vs Diamond Bank FC. The Hall of Fame featured Captain of the day, Segun Babatunde of Sterling Bank, Theo Amadi, Lekan Olarewaju, Eric Iruh, Rotimi Saka, Kayode Agbalaja, Andrew Enebeli of Etisalat and David Iwuchukwu who decided to play for Diamond Bank. They had in goal, Jimoh Ibrahim a veteran shot stopper from FCMB. Both teams played the game at an easy pace and friendly spirit. After a closely contested encounter, the game ended 1-0 in favour of the Hall of Famers through a penalty spot kick converted by Hall of Famer – Rotimi Saka, which gave spectators a taste of what was to come.
Next up was the battle for the Bronze medal and 5 times Champions UBA Lions FC took on Sterling Jets of Sterling Bank. Both teams eager to finish the 2016 Tournament on a high note. UBA started the brightest and controlled proceedings, however, no goals were scored in the first half.
At the resumption of play, Sterling played with a renewed vigor and looked very dangerous on the counter. The match was finely balanced until the 50th minute when Cyprian Onyekachi scored his first goal in the Nigeria Bankers Games 2016 for UBA. That lone goal proved enough to hand UBA the Football Bronze medal in the Nigeria Bankers Games 2016.
As the teams for the finals of the NBG 2016 football event warmed up, the following dignitaries graced the occasion; Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo – Managing Director, Fidelity Bank plc; Ms. Barbara Harper – Human Capital and Management Development Officer of First Bank who also happens to be a former female table tennis Champion; and a host of other top executives from Fidelity Bank and First Bank.
This was the climax of the day, the much anticipated final match between defending Champions, Fidelity Bank and First Bank. The game which was a repeat of the 2015 finals kicked off with Fidelity Bank on their traditional Lemon & Blue jersey and First Bank in Blue and White stripes. The match witnessed a display of good football from both teams to the delight of the spectators. First Bank started the game with determination to get a revenge for last season’s loss. The game came to life in the 15th minute when Kelechi Nwosu was adjudged to have fouled Leke Odusanya in the 18 yard box, Kabiru Yakasai stepped up to convert the resultant penalty kick. Fidelity Bank tried desperately to get an immediate equalize but were thwarted by a resolute First Bank defence.
The 2nd half began in a fierce mode with strings of attack from the Fidelity Bank attack led by Kazim Lamidi, but the First Bank defence continued to stand strong. However, in the dying minutes of the encounter, just when First Bank would have been dreaming of lifting the elusive trophy, the normally confident First Bank goalkeeper, Bello spilled a shot unto the path of onrushing Fidelity Bank’s Dimeji Oyefeso for Fidelity Bank’s much needed equalizer. The celebrations that greeted that equalizer from the mammoth crowd could be heard all over Lagos. The game finished 1-1 at full time. The Champions of the NBG 2016 Football event was to be decided by the lottery of penalty shootout.
The penalty shootout went in much the same fashion as the game, as neither team wanted to back out. They went toe to toe in the first 10 kicks with both teams scoring all 5 of their spot kicks. Then the shootout went into sudden death, yet these players continued to score beautiful kicks as if unaffected by the sheer pressure of the occasion. Finally, First Bank missed their 8th spot kick to gift the trophy back to the defending Champions. Fidelity Bank have thus joined UBA and Skye Bank as the only teams to have won the football trophy back to back.
The following football awards were given out to deserving players:
|
BEST GOAL KEEEPER |
SAMUEL UGIM | FIDELITY BANK |
|
BEST DEFENDER |
EDWARD OYEWOLE | FIRST BANK |
|
BEST MIDFIELDER |
DIMEJI OYEFESO |
FIDELITY BANK |
| HIGHEST GOAL SCORER | MUJEEB OGUNTOWO |
STANBIC IBTC |
| MVP | KAZIM LAMIDI |
FIDELITY BANK |
Medals and prizes were also given to the winners of the other events in Scrabble, Chess, Table Tennis, Tennis and athletics.
Below is the final standing of the teams on the medals table:
Fidelity Bank have thus emerged Overall Champions of the Nigeria Bankers Games for an unprecedented 6th time. They are the only team to win the Overall Championship and the Football event back to back.
We appreciate your participation at The Nigeria Bankers Games 2016 edition and we look forward to seeing you again at the NBG 2017 edition.
For any inquiries, please mail to cg@mediavisionlimited.com
You can also mail or call:
Ope – ope@mediavisionlimited.com ; 0803 864 8457
Fela is the Co-founder of MediaVision Limited .
