Hardwork Gave Us Football Gold —Laspotech Coach

Chief Coach of Lagos State Polytechnic, Laspotech Football Team, Joseph Ogunbowale has revealed that hardwork and prayers helped the institution to emerge champions of the football event of the 4th Lagos Inter Tertiary Games.

Laspotech defeated the University Of Lagos, Unilag 3-0 in a penalty shootout after both teams settled for a goal apiece in regulation time of the final match played at the Sports Complex of Yaba College of Teechnology, Yabatech.

Ogunbowale told P.M.News that it was a tough game for both institutions, but expressed gladness that his team overcame the hard fighting Unilag squad. He noted that determination saw them through to retain the title they won last year.

“We are happy that we defended the title we won last year. Although we lost 1-0 to Unilag in the group stage, but we avenged that defeat, which was well deserved. We used the Tertiary Games to prepare our team for the West Africa Polytechnic Games, WAPOGA, which comes up next year in Ghana,” he said.

In his own reaction, coach of Unilag team, Whiteman Ezeoye, congratulated the winners for their victory.

“I am not disappointed with the defeat. Our boys fought like wounded lions and wanted to win the match, but we were not at our best during the penalty shootouts. I congratulate Laspotech for this victory and hope we do better in the next edition,” he said.

Seun Adejumobi drew the first blood for Laspotech in the early minutes of the first half before Randy Akpomedaye restored parity in the 11th minute to end the half in one goal apiece at regulation time. The second half could not produce any goal as both teams missed several scoring chances till the match ended.

Meanwhile, Yabatech beat the Lagos State University, LASU 3-1 to win the third place match. LASPOTECH went home with a giant trophy and the sum of N1.25m, Unilag team were rewarded with N850,000, while the Yabatech boys went home with the sum of N450,000

Team Unilag were adjudged the overall best team of the championship with 9 gold, 2 silver and 4 bronze medals. They dethroned last edition’s winners, Laspotech who placed third. Yabatech came second with 6 gold, 7 silver and 4 bronze medals, while Laspotech won 1 gold, 7 silver and 5 bronze medals.

Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, the Commissioner for Education, the Host, said the ongoing synergy between her ministry and the sports ministry is yielding positive fruits. She added that the state government is building sports complex across the communities in Lagos so that both the public and private schools can use them for sports activities.

—SUNDAY AKINTOYE