This year’s edition of Achievers Cup, a recreation and leisure competition among ex-footballers organised by Island All Stars Sports Club, has been described as a contest of titans, but only one can emerge as champion.
This is the explanation provided by the club’s public relations officer, Gbenga Awokoya, who said in an exclusive interview with sports247.ng that Achievers Cup 2024 has been more intense than others before it and reasoned that the contestants have been almost equally matched.
Awokoya went on to heap praises on all players and officials of the four teams competing in what is officially known as IASC/Providus Bank Football Competition, then stressed that the first round has been quite exciting.
He further disclosed that, after a total of six matches at the halfway mark, Team Prossy top the table with seven points, followed by Team Gold on six, Kendoritz with two and Candl with just one.
Awokoya also noted that all the teams have given their best, but pointed out that it is inevitable that some will be at the top, while others fall and only one will eventually go home with the cup.
“Three games gone down for each team and three more to go to end the entire tournament for this year, 2024 Achievers Cup,” Awokoya began.
“It has been very intense, with some of the teams going down, while others are going up.
“The focus is on who wins the cup. It’s a game of Titans, but only one will become the champion.
“Of course, there can’t be two champions… there can actually be only one. So, the games now are quite intensified.
“At the end of it all, only one team can win, and I wish them all the very best.”
Awokoya then praised the top two teams at the halfway mark, as he noted their varying strengths that made it possible for them to reach such points.
“I want to congratulate Team Prossy. They actually came with a lot of strength, a lot of strategies, tactics and all that. The results are there for everybody to see.
“Their sponsor appears very determined to win this year’s tournament. They’ve been winning, and right now, they’re on top of the league.
“As for Team Gold, basically, it’s a revival. When they started, they were defeated in their first game, but they didn’t give up.
“They rose as if the sky is not the limit but the starting point.
“They never gave up after losing, and you can see that they are now second on the table,” Awokoya recounted.
He then singled out the Sports Management Committee (SMC) for a job well done in organising the competition so far.
He added, “So far, so good. I want to thank the leader of our SMC, who is also the director of sports, Chief Ike Okoroafor.
“We want to say thank you so much for solidifying the club.
“This has energised the team spirit and the way we have joined together to ensure the competition is what it is right now.”
Awokoya also disclosed that there will be a break next weekend, after which the competition will resune on November 23, and the best team will – at the start of December – be crowned champions of Achievers Cup 2024.
“The game so far has been exciting and, at the end of the competition, after six matches for each team, the winner with the highest number of points will go home with the trophy,” the IASC spokesman stated.
