DEBO ADEOYE, IBADAN
The Football Team of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, on Thursday in Ibadan secured a quarter final place in the ongoing SUNDAY DARE UNITY CUP COMPETITION.
The team secured the slot after defeating Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency Football Team 1-0 in a tension-soaked match played at the OBAFEMI AWOLOWO STADIUM.
The only goal of the match was scored in the 47th minute by TOBI OLAYIWOLA.
The Chairman, Oyo State Chapter of the NUJ, COMRADE ADEMOLA BABALOLA, expressed joy at the outcome of the match and commended the players for their performance so far in the tournament.
“I am highly elated at the outcome of today’s match. Our colleagues did very well for NUJ and we are very happy from the first blast of the whistle to the end of the game.
“We came out victorious and we have now qualified for the quarterfinal of this competition. I have addressed them and I told them that I like their team spirit, they should keep it up.
“With this indomitable spirit, we can emerge victorious at the end of the day to be the cup winner for this edition of the competition,” he said.
The Chairman observed the need for the team’s technical officials to concentrate more on the attack and midfield departments to enable the team advance beyond quarterfinal stage.
COMRADE BABALOLA advised the midfielders to work with and support the strikers. He however hailed the performance of the defenders and goalkeeper.
“Going by the indomitable spirit we have and the level of preparedness, I think we can do better in the next match, and go ahead to win the semifinal and the final itself.
“I hope and we are going to pray for the team. We are not going to rest on our oars. We will support it with all it needs to come out victorious, and win this edition of the competition and keep it for the record,” he said.
Oyo NUJ Team Coach, MR. FEMI AMUSAN, expressed joy over the team’s victory in its first two games which saw them through to the quarterfinals of the competition.
According to AMUSAN, the game started on a negative note due to challenges of jerseys which came in the same colours, noting that this could affect the players psychologically.
“At the same time, this is youth football. You tell them this is how to play, the players respond in another way. We wanted them to at least play beautiful football and explore the field beyond winning.
“But, you see that they, because they want to play, they were eager and in the process they made some silly mistakes.
” When they came out in the second half, I think they settled down.
“They scored early in the second half which is very good. We played two games, we won two games and we are not tired, we are not ready to leave this tournament yet,” he said.
The NUJ team is now leading the group with six points in two matches, having earlier on Tuesday defeated Orelope/Irepo Federal Constituency team 1-0
Oyo NUJ team would on Saturday take on Ogbomoso North/South/Oriire Federal Constituency side.
