Beyond Limits Football Academy secured their first Creative Championship Cup in a dramatic penalty shootout against Sporting Lagos, thanks to the guidance and determination of Coach Ajibolade Olumide.
This landmark victory adds to the academy’s impressive record of winning the Creative Championship League four times consecutively.
In an emotional post-match interview with Sports 247, Coach Ajibolade Olumide shared his overwhelming joy and relief at finally clinching the elusive trophy.
“I don’t know, I can’t put my feelings together. I’m very happy because it’s one of those games that was looking like we were going to lose,”Ajibolade said.
He emphasized the match’s tension and the resilience his team displayed in overcoming the pressure.
The final match saw Beyond Limits FA take an initial 2-1 lead, only for Sporting Lagos to equalize, pushing the game into a nerve-wracking penalty shootout.
Despite the high stakes, Ajibolade’s team maintained their composure and secured the victory, much to the delight of their coach.
Ajibolade reflected on the journey and the near-misses in previous finals. “Taking the lead always pays back, but sometimes in football, you never know.
Today, I saw a different side to football, and I saw a different side to myself. I didn’t even know that I wanted to win it that bad, to be honest, but because we’d lost two finals, it was now looking like a haunted cup for us.”
Coach Ajibolade expressed how the victory lifted a shadow over the academy’s legacy in the competition.
“It was like a shadow over our legacy at this competition. I’m pleased that we could step into the light today and come out on top,” he stated.
Despite the victory, AjiboladeAjiboladeAjibolade Olumide remains focused on the academy’s core mission: player development.
“When we start next season, we’ll be competitive. You would think we’ve never won it before. Why? Because we are not playing to win it.
We are playing to develop players,” he explained. Ajibola highlighted the importance of preparing young talents for future success, both on and off the field.
He also emphasized the long-term goals beyond winning trophies. “These trophies, these medals, they will rust, they will get lost.
However, the legacy is in the lives of the players, and how many of them can move forward, help their families, and be professionals.”
Reflecting on the season, Ajibola identified the cup final as the pinnacle. “Has to be today, to be honest, has to be today because of the history of the competition for us. We lost to Gbagada in the finals.
We lost to Dino at home in the finals. And today, the penalty shootout, was very nail-biting and emotional. So yes, this is the highest point for me in the season.”
As Beyond Limits FA celebrates this historic win, Coach Olumide Ajibola is already looking forward to the next season, ready to continue the tradition of excellence and player development in the Creative Championship League, which he hails as the best league in the country.
