GTBank MASTERS CUP SEASON 4: QUEENS COLLEGE, St GREGORY THROUGH TO FINALS

GTBank MASTERS CUP SEASON 4: QUEENS COLLEGE, St GREGORY THROUGH TO FINALS

The Guaranty Trust Bank’s Master Cup season 4 semi-finals on Friday, June 12^th 2015 at the Onikan Stadium Lagos with an opening match from the female category; Queen’s College Yaba versus Ansar ud Deen Girls High School Isolo where the defending winners, Queens College crossed into the finals with a win of 4-0.

It started on a high note when barely three minutes into the match, Ariori Dolapo scored the first goal and later scored two more goals into the match to get a hat trick. At the eleventh minute, Dolapo input her second goal and by this time the Queens College dominated the field of play against Ansar-ud Deen girls. The third goal came in the second half from Adeleke Adefunke. However, this did not stop the winning team from resting on their evident victory. Ariola Dolapo got his hat trick when she sealed their triumph with a fourth goal.

But it was a dramatic male semi-final match when Western College, Yaba played St. Gregory’ College Obalende as both team came to play for pride. It was goalless at half time but The Captain Ekene Jebefume of Western College broke the deadlock 9 minutes into the second half. However, Onigbo Oke of St Gregory’s College brought his team back by leveling up 10 minutes before full time.

It all looked like the game will go into penalties but a last minute effort from the Obalende boys saw Frank Okafor scoring at the stroke of regulation time to give St. Gregory’s College the GTBank Masters Cup Finals ticket for the second time in two years.

The Masters Cup which was formerly known as The Heritage Cup was formed for first generation heritage schools and private schools. It has also become a football championship for the secondary school participants as it serves as a platform for the healthy sportsmanship and ultimately discovers raw football talents by scout agents.

The second group of semi finalists will play on Saturday June 13^th 2015 as Federal Government College, Ijanikin will fill out against Ansar- Ud-Deen Girls High School, itire while Jibril Martins Grammar School, Iponri will fight for supremacy against St. Finbarr’s College, Akoka .

For FGC, Ijanikin, this is their first appearance at the GTBank Masters Cup and they have done well in the female category of the competition. They qualified alongside defending champions, Queens College, Yaba in Group-B after they shrugged off worthy opponents like Methodist Girls High School, Yaba and neighbors Corona College, Agbara to pick the second semi-final ticket.  Their Captain, Towoju Toyosi has been inspiring to her team mates and she also holds the defence well.

But it will be a different ball game for the newcomers who will be facing Group-A winners Ansar Ud Deen Girls High School, Itire who won all their matches and did not concede a single goal. Toyosi and her defence will have a lot to do to contain Ansar Ud Deen’s Fatima Oyebanji who has 9 goals to her name.

This will also be a similar story for Jibril Martins Grammar School who is also participating in the male category of GTBank Masters Cup for the first time compact team who was able to curtail Grace High School, Gbagada comfortably. Nonetheless, they will be playing St. Finbarr’s College, Akoka who are equally fast and sharp on the break but also very sound defensively.

Both debutants are strong, skillful and disciplined but a game of football need more than that as it takes 11 to tackle 11. The venue and the outcome will determine who the Queen’s College champion go up against in the finals to win the Masters Cup.

 Will their prayer prevail against each other at Onikan Stadium?