Fosla Academy of Karshi and Government Secondary School, Kabusha have both qualified for this year’s FCT Principals Cup final.
In the first semi finals played at the Area 3 Playground yesterday in Abuja, the Fosla boys defeated their opponents, Government Secondary School, Wuse Zone 3 by 2-0 to confirm their passage to the final.
Fosla’s two goals were scored in quick succession in the first half by Abdulahi Bashiru who grabbed a brace within three minutes to silent the menacing threats of the Wuse boys. Bashiru’s first goal came in the 22nd minutes of the first half while the second followed almost immediately in 25 minutes of the encounter.
The qualification is the 3rd consecutive time Fosla is reaching the FCT Principals Cup finals.
On their part, GSS Kabusha came from a goal down to beat GSS Mabushi by 2-1 thereby setting up what analysts have described as a titanic battle to determine the overall winner of the FCT Principals Cup next week.
Speaking to our correspondent, GSS Wuse coach, Mr Udechi Emmanuel, said he was disappointed with the result but praised his lads for putting up a decent performance and described the two goals they conceded as “cheap”. He further lamented that he lost the match due to the fact that six of his players were screened out for what he does not know.
“I feel sad over the result but the boys tried their best. The two goals they scored were very cheap. We are going to prepare for the 3rd place play off and we need to go back and correct our mistakes.
“The screening of players was lopsided. For example, none of Fosla Academy players were screened. And if you watch our boys, they are very small boys and you cannot compare them to Fosla Academy boys. My players, six of them, were screened out. The officials told me that they were screened out based on how they look; that they looked rough and they are farmers. What is that? Why would they not be farmers when they will wake up early in the morning, go to the farm, work for themselves and come back? Look at the Fosla boys, they are inside hostel, they don’t do anything so they have to look young. So you cannot compare them. They screened my players based on how they look which I don’t understand.
“I cannot lose the semi finals and still lose the 3rd place match as a coach. I am going back home to plan very well,” Coach Emmanuel stated.
On his part, the victorious coach, Mr Gilbert Igwe, was elated over his lad’s 3rd consecutive qualification for the FCT Principals Cup finals. Adding that he would go back to the drawing board and make corrections ahead of the finals on Wednesday, December 6.
“I feel very happy though it has not been easy to reach to this stage. Those boys came out to play very well but we took our chances to win the game and reach the finals.
“We will go back home and make our corrections and pray that God will see us through in winning the finals.
“We were screened as well because we came with 26 players and they said they are not using SS3 students so we dropped them. All the boys that you saw play are SS1, SS2 and JSS3. This is the 3rd time we are playing in the finals and it is God that has been doing it for us.
“Fosla Academy is the role model of grassroots football and the proprietor has been advising other schools to emulate him. If all of them can go back and embrace grassroots football, they will get to where Fosla is now.
“There is improvement in the organisation in the tourney this year compared to last year. The game this year was different from the game last year. I belive that by next year, there will be more improvement from schools and the organisers.
“I thank our fans for their support. We will always give them our best; nothing but the best. We are coming and we will get there by God’s grace,” the jubilian coach concluded.
The FCT Principals Cup for both male and female 3rd place matches and finals will take place on Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 December 2017, respectively.
The female 3rd place match is on Tuesday, December 5th by 1pm while the 3rd place match for male will be played by 3pm.
The finals of both tournaments will be played on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 with the female final taking place by 1pm and that of the male by 3pm. Government Girls Secondary School, Nyanya and Government Girls Secondary School, Abaji are the two female finalists. While Fosla Academy and GSS Kabusha will slug it out in the male final.
The final which was originally scheduled to be played on Friday, December 1 was shifted due to the Islamic celebration of Eid-El-Maulud and the federal government’s declaration of Friday 1st as public holday. The winner of the final will represent FCT in the NNPC/Shell Cup competition to commence next year.
