Akanni Seyi
Lobi Stars ace, Sunday Alimi has expressed his satisfaction towards the just concluded prestigious Gold Cup preseason tournament in ljebuode.
Lobi Stars Football Club emerged champions of the 4th edition of the tournament with a 4-3 penalty win over hard fighting Gold Cup debutant, Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Football Club of Lagos.
The tournament features Ten teams from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), Nigeria National League(NNL) and the NationWide League(NLO). It was a keenly contested tourney as teams gave good account of themselves in the 10-day soccer fiesta in preparation for the Nigerian League season.
MFM FC displayed a series of masterclass performance with Sikiru Olatunbosun, Stephen Odeh, Chukwuka Onuwa spinning and combining furiously around Lobi’s dangerous area but Lobi’s defence were up to the task to curtail any damages. Lobi should have sent the game well to the bed as couples of chances were missed by the pride of Benue.
It was indeed a frenetic game and evening to remember considering the penalty shoot out drama that saw MFM goalkeeper saving three kicks and yet, MFM still lost the game.
In his own reflections of the tournament, ex junior international, Sunday Alimi who tasted a lot of actions stated that the trophy will motivate his team to be in great form ahead of the new season.
“This trophy will serve as motivation for us to hit the ground running as soon as NPFL kick starts,” Alimi told Soccernet.com.ng.
“We are approaching the next phase of our pre-season activities because we are aiming to be in the continent at the end of the coming season.”
The one time top World Academy star, however lauded the organisers of the tournament.
“This kind of tournament is an eye opener for teams to rediscover their form and to maintain the fighting spirit, l give kudos to the organiser, more of this in the nearest future,” Alimi concluded.