First Bank, Deepwater Battle For Supremacy

As the third phase of this year’s edition of Zenith Premier League continues inside the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos, the clash between the defending champions of the league, First Deepwater and the former champions, First Bank of Lagos, has been tagged the battle for supremacy.

The encounter has been scheduled to be the last match of the championship and the reason for this is not far fetched. The result of the match between First Bank and First Deepwater match may decide the team that would win the league coveted trophy.

Chief Coach of First Deepwater, Lateef Erinfolami, is confident that his team would retain the crown at the end of the championship.

Erinfolami said his team is determined to remain the champions of the Premier league no matter the strategies employed by other clubs to wrestle the title from them.

“We are on course to make sure we retain the title we won for the first time last year. I am aware of all the plans of our rivals to hijack the trophy from us,but we are equally ready for them,” he assured.

“First Bank, Sunshine and a few clubs gave us a run for our money last two seasons, but despite being relatively young in the league, we were able to curtail them. We beat First Bank, who had been a hard nut to crack for most teams for so many years,” he added.

Erinfolami said his girls know the task ahead of them and will not give room for any lapses when they confront their opponents.

On his own part, First Bank Coach, Aderemi Adewunmi said his players are ready to win all their matches at this phase of the league having failed to do so in Akure, where the second phase was held.

He said: “We are fully charged for this championship and I can assure you that we will take every game as it comes. Hopefully, with all the hardwork we put into every game we will come out top and reclaim the league trophy.”

Assistant coach of First Bank, Chris Acha, said he expects his players to continue to come out victorious as the tourney continues.

He said that they can’t afford to lose any games as they are already on the second spot on the League’s table. He hopes the players will not repeat the mistakes they made at the second phase, where they lost to First Deepwater in a decisive match, saying they have learnt and corrected their mistakes.

Acha said: “Every match is going to be tough and we are going to approach each match with all seriousness. But I can assure you the match against the defending champions, First Deepwater is going to be an acid test for both teams.

“Hopefully it’s going to be the decider and I can promise you we are ready for it.”

Both clubs have started on an impressive note as they have won all the matches they played so far in the tourney.

First Deepwater emerged winners of the second phase of the league held in Akure from 4-14 August, as they won all their nine matches.

—Bamidele Olowosegba