23rd September, 2011
 Yomi Peters was the former player of the defunct Stationery Stores Football Club of Lagos.Unfortunately, his team lost the Challenge Cup semi final match against Mighty Jets of Jos in 1974. Because of his commitment to the club, he was appointed the Team Manager of the club in 1990 and guided Stores to win the Cup that year. Peters spoke about his experience in the Federation Cup with SUNDAY AKINTOYE
You are of the yesteryears players that featured in the Challenge known today as the Federation Cup, how would you describe this year’s edition?
During my playing days, the Challenge Cup was glamorous and colourful. The excitement was so high then. When the Challenge Cup final was coming up like this, many football fans will be talking about the final because there are many stars that spectators would want to watch then, but today the glamour is no long there.
How can the organisers bring the glamour and excitement back to the Federation Cup?
It will take time. It is so sad that this year’s Federation Cup has no sponsor. Then how many star players are playing in Heartland and Enyimba that would attract fans to the stadium? Do the local players get the chance to play in the Super Eagles? If we cannot answer these questions; we will continue to witness low turnout and publicity in the Federation Cup.
Did you win Federation Cup during your playing days?
I did not win it as a player, but I won it when I was the Team Manager of the defunct Stationery Stores in 1990.We defeated Rangers FC 5-4 on penalty shootout after a barren draw at the National Stadium here in Lagos. It was tension soaked match, but we came out victorious at the end of the day.
Tell us one of the matches you played in the Challenge Cup of those days?
I played in 1974 Challenge Cup for the defunct Stationery Stores but we crashed out in the semi final when we lost 1-3 to Mighty Jet of Jos in Lagos. We lost the match because of over confidence. Our match against Rangers in the quarter final in Benin was another tough match I played, but we defeated them 4-3 on penalties after 1-1 at the regulation time to reach the semi final.