Former national team goalkeeper, Uche Justine Akubuike has declared emphatically that he is targeting the trophy at the ongoing 2024 Achievers Cup in Lagos.
Sports247 reports that the competition, Island All Stars Sports Club (IASC) Providus Bank Achievers Cup is one of best with many former national team players taking part during exciting matches that are played every weekend.
Akubuike, who is appearing for Team Prossy, was able to keep clean sheets in his side’s first two matches (on October 19 and this Saturday), as they defeated both T-Gold and Team Candl by the same 3-0 scoreline.
Although he admitted they still have four matches to play before, they can be crowned as champions of the highly laudable recreational football competition, the NITEL United of Lagos product, who last played for Enyimba of Aba in 2012, said he is happy that his team started well.
Akubuike, who is now 44 years old, told Sports247 in an exclusive chat at the venue, “It means we are on the right track, and it means a lot to me personally.
“I am happy that, at this age, I am still diving and still saving balls. I am also happy that, with Prossy, we are winning, and I pray that we will not have any injury.”
Akubuike also chipped in comforting words of encouragement for all other players and teams participating in the leisure competition, but stressed that the trophy is for his side.
“For players of other teams, I wish them the best of luck. For my team, I wish us the cup.
We are eyeing the trophy, but we will not lose guard … because anything can happen.
In this our game, peradventure we have an injury, we will start worrying about who will play the next match.”
That’s why, for now, I only wish for us that we will not have any injury; so that we can play well and play safe,” Akubuike projected.
The lanky shot-stopper, who starred in Algeria, Cameroon, Serbia, Faroe Islands and South Africa during his heyday, also praised Providus Bank for supporting the competition, which has become a vibrant weekly rallying point for many Nigerian ex-internationals.
