By Amamechi Agbo

It was a bright sunny Monday afternoon. Unusually, the Area 3 Play Ground, Venue of the final of the 2019 FCT FA League was crowded. Unlike what used to be the norm, Bestchoicesports.com.ng editor, Amaechi Agbo writes.

Dignitaries, high profile personalities both within and outside Abuja not also excluding those who are not into sports generally, were all there.

The FCT Director of Sports, Chief Mrs Dilichukwu Onyedinma was among the top personalities at the venue.

Expectedly, expectations were high, tension was raised and heartbeats increased. However, the atmosphere was serene. Hawkers of various wares were making business as players and officials got ready for the occasion at hand.    

Both teams, finalists, Winco Foam FC and WACO Football Academy, reached the final with an unblemish record. Both recorded two wins out of two matches thereby condemning Basica Maracana and Abees Football Academy to pick up the crumbs from their exalted table.

The thrilling encounter that climaxed the Super-four of the FCT FA league was played at the Area 3 Sports Complex or what a radio commentator, Niyi Busari called Estadio De Area 3 Stadium. It was just fun and glamour but inside the field of play was war. A war fought not with bullet but football and the target was never to injure a player but to score a goal.

Unfortunately, Winco Foam FC goalkeeper was on the receiving end of an embarrassing scoreline as he picked the ball not 1, 2, 3 times from his net but four times!

WACO opened scoring in the 17th minute through their mercurial captain Enock Tanimu who went on to take home the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, MVP.

Three minutes later, Odama Ebiriku doubled the lead for the enterprising WACO boys to make it 2-0 excatly at 20^th minutes of the first half.

In the second half, Winco Foam changed strategy to curtail the midfield dominance of their opponent, but just three minutes into the half, as it happened in the first, the gate of blessings opened again for the WACO boys as Silas John made it three through a well slotted header.

In the 55th minute Winco Foam’s Kingsley Chinedu scored a spectacular solo effort to reduce the deficit to 1-3, but it was too little too late. A mere consolation but not one who went without the WACO boys punishment. And again, Winco goalkeeper, picked the ball from his net as the free scoring WACO boys rounded up the game in the 67th minute with a fine goal by Peter Agba to make it 4-1.

WACO FC will represent FCT in the Nigeria Nationwide League Division 3 playoff.

High point of the match was the presentation of trophy to WACO FA, runners up and third place medal respectively.

There are cash prizes for the three teams; WACO Football Academy will be awarded with Two hundred thousand (N200, 000) with free Aiteo Cup registration, the runners up, Winco Foam FC get One hundred thousand (N100, 000) and will not also pay for the registration of this year’s State  Aiteo Cup, while third place, Abees Football Academy are rewarded with Fifty thousand naira (N50,000) only.

Enock Tanimu who emerged Best Player of The Tournament is awarded with a Winco Foam and football boot, while Ejike Philip Highest Goal Scorer with 15 goals also received a Football Boot, plaque and Winco Foam.