National Principal’s Cup: How Fosla Academy Players, Officials Were ‘Ambushed’ In Abuja
By Amaechi Agbo
On Friday, March 19, 2021, the players, athletes and coaches of first Nigeria Independent Premier football academy, Fosla Academy set out for Jos, the Plateau State Capital, to represent the Federal Capital Territory, FCT at the North-Central 2021 National Principal’s Cup Playoff.
The event was held from Saturday, 20 to Sunday, 21 March, 2021.
They arrived safely and took the zone by storm winning the football and 4 × 100m girls events at the end of the competition on Sunday.
The Fosla boys defeated Our Lady School, Kogi state 2-1 to pick the football tick from the zone.
On Monday morning, the contingents set out for a return journey, singing victorious songs like Kings conquered a war scene and were on triumphant entry back home.
Students displayed various cards to welcome their heroes back
Having traveresed Jos, Kaduna and Nasarawa States, arriving Abuja, pricisely Karshi their home, they recieved a pleasant shock of their lives.
While they were in Jos, working hard to do the FCT and the Academy proud and with the news of their victory spreading everywhere like wild fire, when the contingent arrived the gate of their school, lo and behold, it was barricaded.
Not by police personnel, not by miscreants but by Students, staff and other management who did not travel with the team.
They laid “ambush” for their victorious ambassadors and refused the gatekeeper to open the gate for them to go in. They “demanded” to see their proprietor and asked all the players and officials in their cars to disembark.
As their proprietor, Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi stepped out from his car, he was besieged by drummers, dancers who appeared within the gate and rushed to welcome the him and the contingents in a most colourful unique demonstration of overwhelming joy.
At the gate, they beat their drums, singing and dancing, praising God for victories achieved and journey mercy granted.
Appeal by the proprietor to calm the jubilant students and staff yielded no result as he joined the dancing troop.
Thereafter, the contingents were hosted to a sumptuous party before they dispatched to their hostels
FCT Contingent qualified in 13 events at the plaoff
Speaking after the party, Alhaji Sani Lulu, former President, Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, thanked the students, staff and management of the academy for their commitment, zeal and dedication to duty.
He appreciated them for keying into the vision and mission of the academy and recording the success stories achieved. He charged them not to relent as greater work lies ahead as the academy towards becoming national champions.
Fosla Academy defeated Our Lady School 2-1on Sunday to emerge winners of the zonal elimination.
En route the final, they defeated Kwara State by alone goal on Saturday and whitewashed plateau State 9-0 in their second match on Sunday morning.
Fosla Academy scored a whopping 25 goals in five matches to reach the National final conceding only two.
They thrashed Government Sicence Technical College, GSTC Garki 11-1 and defeated Government Sicence Secondary School, GSSS Tungamaji 2-0 during the FCT qualifiers.
Fosla Academy will also represent the North-Central Zone in the 4 × 100m girls relay.
The 2021 National Principal’s Cup final will hold in Abuja from Saturday, March 27 to 31.
