The semi – finals of the ongoing Remita Corporate Champions Cup 2015 took place on Sunday 17th May, 2015.
It was another display of corporate football at its best.
Dignitaries who graced the occasion included; the Managing Director of SystemSpecs, who led the ceremonial handshakes and performed the ceremonial kick-off; the tournament Ambassador, Peter Rufai; the Chief Executive Officer of MediaVision Limited, Mr. Fela Bank-Olemoh and the Executive Director of SystemSpecs, Mr. Deremi Atanda.
UNILEVER 1 2 NESTLE
The first semi – finals was between 2 heavy weights of the FMCG Industry, Unilever and Nestle. These two teams also clashed in the group matches of the 2014 FMCG Games. Then Nestle needed a win to reach the finals of the FMCG Games 2014, but after leading for almost the entire match, a last gasp equalizer by Unilever stopped the Milo Boys from reaching the finals at the first time of asking.
Unilever went on to lift the trophy.
So it can be said that revenge was once again on the minds of the Nestle players just as it was in their quarterfinal win over Etisalat.
The Milo Boys were the quickest off the blocks, causing early panic in the Unilever defense. They continued to dictate the tempo of the game through eventual man of the match, Captain Victor Edafe. Nestle eventually took a deserved lead in the 4th minute through the Captain after the Unilever defense momentarily went to sleep.
However, the goal seemed to wake the Close Up Boys as they took over control of the match and went in search of an early equalizer. The equalizing goal duly came in the 15th minute after a long probing ball was mishandled by the Nestle Goalkeeper leaving Ekundayo Akintade with the simplest of a tap in goal.
Nestlé’s second goal came in the 18th minute when Sodiq Soliu released a shot from outside of the 18 yard box which took a wicked deflection for Nestlé’s second and eventual winning goal.
The second half took off in much the same fashion with both teams trying to dictate play from the midfield. Both teams created and missed several chances. Try as they could, the FMCG Games defending Champions, Unilever’s comeback bid was thwarted by the Nestle defense which stood resolute to eventually qualify for the finals of the Remita Corporate Champions Cup 2015.
Man of the Match : Victor Edafe (Nestle)
Post-Match Interview with the Captains
UBA VS LEADWAY ASSURANCE
Two giants of their industry, UBA and Leadway Assurance took to the pitch for the second semi – final and a chance to reach the finals for the first time.
Both teams are defending Champions of their Industry Games, UBA for the Nigeria Bankers Games and Leadway Assurance for the Nigeria Insurance Games.
While UBA overcame MTN to get to the quarterfinals, Leadway Assurance defeated Ecobank to reach the semi – finals.
Both teams were unchanged from the quarterfinal winning sides and were meeting for the first time in the Corporate Nigeria Games.
It was however, Leadway Assurance who started the brightest, stringing together beautiful passes and causing all sorts of problems for the Audu Samuel led UBA defense.
In one of their many forays into the UBA defense, a UBA defender was adjudged to have handled the ball and Leadway Assurance were awarded a spot kick.
Up stepped Dare Ajala to take the kick, he created quite a buzz in taking the spot kick. He backed off almost close to their penalty box, strolled for a while then ran up to slot the ball home to give Leadway Assurance the lead.
The UBA team quickly regrouped and came at the Leadway Assurance team with the intent of getting back into the game immediately. In – form Audu Samuel got the ball from his own half got past a couple of players and then let rip a low short which the Leadway Assurance Goalkeeper had no answer to, it was game on in the second semi – finals of the Remita Corporate Champions Cup 2015.
The second half was not quite as explosive as the first, but there was a dogged determination in both teams to get into the finals. They cancelled out each others moves, although Leadway Assurance was put on the back foot for a better part of the second half.
The game eventually ended in a one-all stalemate and the winner had to be decided by penalty shootout.
Both teams scored their first 4 spot kicks. The UBA Goalkeeper took the final spot kick for his team and scored. He then re-enacted his Nigeria Bankers Games heroics, where he won the best Goalkeeper award, by stopping in beautiful fashion Leadway Assurance’s final spot kick.
Man of the Match: Sola Thompson (UBA)
UBA thus booked their finals ticket in their first season in the Remita Corporate Champions Cup.
Post-Match Interview
The finals of the Remita Corporate Champions Cup 2015 will be between UBA and Nestle. Both team Captains in their respective interviews have promised the fans a lot more than has been displayed already. Both teams will be playing in the finals for the first time and are sure looking forward to lifting the Trophy.
The Third Place Match between Unilever and Leadway Assurance as well as the Finals will take place on Sunday 24th May, 2015 at the Campos Stadium, Lagos Island.
Part of the closing ceremony will include the Peter Rufai Challenge. Selected dignitaries will have the opportunity to play a penalty for Nigeria’s foremost Goalkeeper and Captain, Peter Rufai. The Ex – International has promised to bring his original gloves for the entertainment.
The Challenge will come just before the finals and for every save Dodo Mayana makes, money will be donated to Charity.
Also at the finals, the Sponsor, SystemSpecs will be playing a novelty match against BUA Group, which is one game to look forward to.
The Remita Corporate Champions Cup 2015 is the second season of the tournament which is organized by MediaVision Limited and sponsored by Remita from SystemSpecs.
Fela is the Co-founder of MediaVision Limited .
