29th March, 2011
Gunners Football Team at the weekend defeated All Stars Football Team of Apapa 4-3 on penalty shootout to emerge the winners of five-aside BRF Lagos Veterans Soccer Fiesta.
Players of the All Stars Football Team included members of the Sport Writers Association of Nigeria Lagos SWAN, Lagos Chapter. The one- day event drew a large crowd from all works of life to the Campos Sports Centre, Lagos Island, Lagos State.
Gunners Football Team only lost 0-1 to All Stars Family in one of Group A matches and won other matches to book a place in the final.
The final match against All Stars of Apapa was tension soaked encounter, as both teams scored their goals in the second half to end the game 1-1.
Gunners’ goal keeper, Ibrahim Jimoh, was the match hero, as he saved four penalty kicks to earn his team’s victory.
Jimoh, who spoke to P.M Sports after the match, commended all the participating teams for their performance.
He said Gunners played better and deserved to be the winners.
“After we lost to All Stars Family in group stage, we tried to improve in our subsequent games which really helped us to win the cup,†said Jimoh who dedicated his victory to their supporters.
Speaking at the occasion, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, congratulated the participating teams for honouring the fiesta. He said the tourney was organised to allow ex-internationals play together and interact with one another.
He stated that his administration will continue to support sports in the state and urged sports men and women to cast their votes for Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, so that the government will serve them better.
—Sunday Akintoye