Who Wears The Crown As Maryland, Shaggy Tango In PWF Cup Final

Team Managers of Maryland FC and Shaggy FC have been talking tough ahead of PWF Cup final, which holds on Sunday at the FIFA Legacy pitch, Surulere, Lagos.

To reach the final stage, Maryland FC humbled MFM Yaba football team 2-0, while Shaggy FC of Bariga defeated Satec Football Club of Mushin 6-5 in penalty shootout after barren draw at the regulation time. The second semi final was played recently at the Ikeja Cantonment sports centre.

The performance of both clubs in their previous matches showed that the PWF Cup final will be keenly contested as the two teams won all their matches to reach the final stage. The two teams have been playing series of friendly matches as part of their preparations for the  final encounter.

Speaking  ahead of the crucial final, Manager of Maryland team,Uche Reginald,  described the final as mother of all battles. He boasted that his players are in the best form of their lives to win the match. He added that the team are in high spirit and  determined to end this year with a trophy.

“I am quite impressed with the performance of my team in  recent friendly matches we played. We  are well  prepared and it is time for us to go for victory on Sunday. We are desperate to win PWF Cup because we  have not won  any trophy this year,” he said.

Sunday Idoko and Gbolahan Afolabi who scored four goals each for Maryland will be a delight to watch as both players have promised to wreak havoc  on their opponents. Shaggy defenders will need to be at their best to curtail the duo from scoring.

Shaggy’s Team Manager, Dipo Obazur,  however,  warned their opponents to forget the cup.

According to him, it will be a disaster if his team lose to unfancied Maryland FC. He predicted his team to win with a 2-0  goal margin.

“My team have not lost in the Cup final before. I urge our fans to come out en masse and cheer our team to victory. Our preparation is excellent and the players are ready to give their best in order to get good result,” he said.

Chairman Organising Committee, Kemac Emina, said arrangement have been put in place to organise a hitch free closing ceremony.

He said  dignitaries are expected to grace the colourful ceremony.

Meanwhile, the cup donor, who doubles as chairman of Pauline &Wilson Foundation, Innocent Ogah, has expressed gratitude to the participating teams for their spirit of sportsmanship during the  competition.

He, however, warned the two finalists to shun violence and play according to the rules and regulations of the game.

—Sunday Akintoye