8th September, 2011
Attention will shift to the Astro turf of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, when Aries Football Club of Lagos Island battle Olukoya Babes in the final of Boska Cup.
To book a place in the final, which holds on Saturday, Olukoya Babes defeated Amazing Grace 3-1, while Aries FC humbled Collin Edwin FC by the same margin.
Olukoya Babes, sponsored by Mountain of Fire Ministries, MFM, of Dr.Daniel Olukoya, have vowed to take their opponents to the cleaners.
When the tourney started, nobody gave Olukoya Babes the chance to go far in the tourney, but their performance in the semi final against Amazing Grace won many fans over to their side and they have tipped them for glory.
Speaking ahead of the final encounter, Sports Director of MFM, Godwin Enakhena, told GSG that Olukoya Babes are in good frame of mind to go for victory.
He boasted that the MFM cannot afford to lose the final, saying that they will give the team necessary support to achieve good result.
“Our target is to lift the cup again. We lifted the cup last year when MFM of Yaba won it. So I don’t see anything wrong with it, if we win this year. We have players who are ready to give their best to win the cup for the MFM General Overseer, Dr. Olukoya,†he said.
In his own reaction, Aries Coach, Osahon Emokpae, boasted that it is going to be a do or die affair and warned their opponents to prepare for war. He said that his players are ready for their opponents come Saturday.
“My players are ready to play the game of their lives. I have told them to be at their best and their performance in training was quite impressive. Olukoya Babes are a good side but we will make sure we cage their best players,†he said.
Olukoya Babes’ defenders should be wary of Solomon Gbdegesin who has scored seven goals in the tournament . Emokpae is happy that the likes of Gbadegesin, Wasiu Bamgboye and Adekunle Micheal will be threat to their opponents on Saturday.
“I have absolute confidence in my players. Olukoya Babes are in big trouble because we are coming to them like wounded lions. We will not spare them because we want to make history, which I believe is achievable,†he said.
Emokpae said winning the Boska Cup will give him the confidence to go for professional clubs in the nearest future. He described Boska soccer competition as the best organised grassroots football competition in Lagos, adding that any coach that wins Boska Cup has what it takes to handle professional club in Nigeria.
—Sunday Akintoye