13th May, 2013
Latter Rain Stars Football Club of Ogba, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria maintained their unbeaten run when they defeated Zion Football Club also of Ogba by 4-3 via penalty shootout. The club had just won a giant trophy in the recently organised Easter tourney among churches in Agege.
The match was played at the Nigeria Institute of Journalism, Ogba football pitch last Saturday.
It was a tournament involving four clubs and it was organised by the Latter Rain Church as part of its outreach programme.
The stage was wet for the final clash between Latter Rain Stars and Zion FC after these two teams had earlier defeated two other teams also through penalty shootout after the two matches ended on a barren note.
In the first match played earlier in the day, Latter Rain FC locked horns with Estate Football Club, while, Zion FC clashed with Starland FC.
In the gritty encounter between Latter Rain and Estate FC which took place while it was drizzling and watched by a fairly large crowd, the two teams gave a good account of themselves, with Seun Oladimeji in goal for Latter Rain FC making daring saves. The match ended goaless at full time and the centre referee, Olabiyi Yomi signalled for a penalty shootout to decide who played in the final. Latter Rain had the upper hand as they defeated Estate FC 3-2 to set the stage for the final clash with Zion FC, who defeated Starland FC also by the same margin of 3-2.
Speaking after the final match between Latter Rain and Zion FC, coach of Latter Rain, Daniel Odili said his boys played better in the second match as all the lapses in the midfield during the first match against the Estate FC were corrected.
Coach Etim Itah of Zion FC praised his boys even though they lost, saying penalty shootout could be in favour of any team and that the officiating by centre referee, K.A. Murtala was good.
After the match, the four teams were given cash prizes and footballs by official minister from Latter Rain Church, led by the Chairman of the Church Council, Bode Adekanye.
Mr. Adeniji Sobande, a member of Latter Rain Church and former Stationery Stores and First Bank goalkeeper, who ran commentaries during the four matches, also held career talks with members of the four clubs that participated in the event.
He told them that they needed charisma and character to succeed as footballers and that they should not joke with their academic activities.