End Of Year Review: Boska Cup Take Centre Stage In 3rd Quarter

Lots of grassroots football competitions were held in the third quarter of this year, but Boska football competition was one of the high profile competitions that brought out the best from grassroots clubs in Lagos.

To fortify their teams ahead of Boska Cup, many of the grassroots clubs who registered for the tourney engaged in different football competitions in the quarter under review.

At least 128 clubs took part in the tournament which was played in the Astro Turf pitch of the National Stadium,Surulere,Lagos, using a knockout format.

Most of the big clubs such as defending champions,MFM Yaba,the runners up of last year’s edition, Lub-Bak,FC, Buruj FC,Satec FC, crashed out in the middle of the tournament.

Surprisingly,unfancied Edwin Collins Academy sent Lub-Bak FC packing in the quarter final of the tournament in the 5-3 penalty shootout after a barren draw at the regulation time.

Chief coach of Edwin Collins Academy,Uche Joy Ugwu, said their victory was a big upset in the tournament.

He said reaching the semi final of this year’s Boska cup was the greatest achievement in his coaching career.

“We have shamed our critics. Nobody gave us a chance of going far in the tournament but we have created an upset which showed that my club have what it takes to win the tournament in the nearest future,” he said.

Edwin Collins could not reach the final as they suffered defeat in the hands of Aries FC 3-1 in the semi final.

The closing ceremony was a colourful and exciting one as Olukoya Daniel Boys and Aries FC exhibited their football artistry in the high tension soaked final watched by a thousand of spectators.

The epic final match ended 2-2 which resulted in a penalty shootout.

Olukoya Daniel FC emerged the winners after they defeated their opponents 5-4 in the penalty shootout.

Commenting, Emmanuel Ibeh of OLukoya Daniel FC was full of praises, saying that the victory was well deserved while Aries Coach,Osahon Emokpae, blamed his players for losing concentration in the last minutes to allow their opponents to get an equaliser.

“My players gave their opponents the victory because they did not play to instruction. It was a match I will never forget because my players disappointed me,” he said.