28th February, 2013
There is no doubt that fate has ruled that Dynamic Football Club of Dopemu would not win Samuel Adejare Football Championship. For three consecutive years, the team coached by Michael Omolgun played in the finals of the grassroots competition in the last three editions, but fail to crown their effort with the trophy.
This year, they narrowly missed the cup after they were defeated 4-5 by Kentade Football Club of Agege in the final played on Sunday at the Ladoje Primary School playground, Agege, Lagos.
Interestingly, both teams had met in the group stage and the encounter ended 3-0 in favour of Dynamic FC. This victory has made pundits following the tournament to conclude that this should be the year of glory for Dynamic, but they were proved wrong as Mother luck had another thing in stock for the team in the final. Dynamic came, saw but failed to conquer.
Dynamic and Kentade went into the match with great expectations and the excitement of playing in the final could be seen in the eyes of the players of the two teams. Goalkeeper Seun Jolayemi of Dynamic was a delight to watch when he saved some set pieces from Kentade players that would have resulted to goal in the early first half.
Dynamic, who were desperate to win the title after losing the final twice, drew the first blood in the 30th minute of the match when Lucky Victor fired a shot that sent Kentade’s goalkeeper, Bello Opeyemi to the wrong side. The goal silence the vociferous fans of the team who came in large number to cheer their team .
But Dynamic who were deadly in attack could not increase the tally as Opeyemi was at his best to stop their incursion into the goal area. The first half ended 1-0 in favour of Dynamic.
Fans were not surprised to see Kentade raising their game in the second half, as they took over the midfield and began to fire shots from every angle but Dynamic’s goalkeeper, Jolayemi spoilt their chances on several occasions.
Substitute Jimoh Sulaiman, however, scored the equalizer for Kentade via a header in the 82th minute to end the grudge match 1-1 in the regulation time.
Kentade keeper, Opeyemi, who was adjudged the man of the match, saved his team’s last penalty kick to end the game 5-4 to seal victory for his side who were winning the title for the first time.
Kentade’s coach, Femi Omolade, boasted after the match that the victory was well deserved. He commended his players for the determination they exhibited throughout the match.
“ We avenged the defeat we suffered in the hands of our opponents in the group stage and I am happy that we won the title. We were the better side today (Sunday) and we deserved to be crowned as the new champions,” he said.
Dynamic’s coach, Omologun, blamed his players for not taking their chances. He said his team would have won the game in the first half if his players convert those scoring chances that came their way.
He, however, congratulated Kentade for their victory and thanked the sponsor, Samuel Adejare, a member of Federal House of Representatives, Agege Constituency for sponsoring the tournament.
Kentade went home with the sum of N50,000 with a giant trophy, while first runners up received N30,000 with a trophy.