The football team of Masterguide College of Egbeda, Lagos put up a gallant display during a friendly match on Tuesday at Lagos National Stadium.
The team coached by one of their teachers, Mr Faith Olopade eked out a couple of goals to end their game against Scala Football Academy in a very commendable and narrow 2-4 defeat.
Both goals for the school from Orelope area of Egbeda were scored by their captain, Julius Clinton, whose spirited efforts and gangling surges at goal left all onlookers mouth agape.
Also in thrilling form during the game were Musa Idris, Okoawoh Ainose, Ngene Ebube, Matthew and Mark Ogbonnaya as well as stand in goalkeeper, Jimoh Saheed.
Also in the squad that drew accolades from the opposing coach, Solomon Adeshina (aka Scala) were Olalekan Darasimi, Demilade Owolabi-Akanbi and two students attending summer coaching classes in the school.
While ‘Coach Scala’ praised the students for holding their own against his squad during the game played on the amputee football pitch of Sports City, Mr Olopade said it would have been a better result for his side had all their players been available.
He retorted: “We have arranged to play another match here when we resume full academic activities in September, so that we can have all our good players available.
“We did not have Ariyo-David Emmanuel, Dike Joseph, Chime Obi, Chime Beluchukwu, Ogunshola Mustapha, Kazeem Malik and Ebire Temilayo for this game, because they’ve all travelled for summer holiday.
“All the same, we thank the parents that released their children to play this match at short notice, and we appreciate the school management for releasing the bus that brought us here.
“Thanks too to the director, Mr Uzoma Ogbonna, the proprietress Mrs Ngozi Ogbonna, the principal Mr Olufemi Oluyinka and the sports master, Mr Thomas for their unflinching support.
“We also thank Coach Adeshina and his assistant for accepting to play us. I believe we will all have a more exciting game when next we come here in September.”
