Golden Stars Football Club of Uselu, Egor, Benin City, has emerged as Champions of the maiden edition of the Imole Gold Cup in Benin City after they defeated Dynamic Stars 4-1 in a pulsating final game at the Evbareke secondary school field.
The game started without any sign of any team exerting any form of one-sided dominance, as the game started with end-to-end attacking moves from both teams.
Dynamic Stars FC drew first blood when their Skipper, Praise Monday, scored a stunning free-kick from over 30 yards, beating goalkeeper Solomon Ayacha of Golden Stars in the 15th minute. Golden Stars responded swiftly with their own goal, which was also born from a free kick delivered by the eventual MVP of the game, Bright Osueke. The free kick was deflected into the goal by Praise Monday, Captain of Dynamic Stars, in the 18th minute of the game.
With both teams failing to score any other goal in the first half, they went into the break with a one-all-draw score line. At the resumption of the second 45 minutes, Golden Stars came on their opponents with much hunger and voracity. Their efforts finally paid off when Bright Osueke scored a free kick just 7 minutes after the play restarted.
Bright made it 3-1 three minutes later before Toure Osahenrunmwen sealed the victory with a header ten minutes away from full-time. At full-time, the entire Evbareke and its environs were thrown into wild jubilation as the favourite team of most of the fans and supporters won the game.
As winners, Golden Stars went home with a five hundred thousand naira grand prize, while Dynamic Stars FC, the runners up went home with three hundred thousand naira. Namo Sports Club, who defeated Santos FC in the third-place final match, were given two thousand nairas, Courtesy of Christian Imole, the Tournament sponsor.
For the individual prizes, the following players were awarded:
1 Solomon Ayacha (Golden Stars FC) – Best Goalkeeper (50,000 naira and a new pair of Goalkeeper gloves)
2 Promise Oghenero (Namo Sports FA) – Tournament’s MVP (50,000 naira)
3 Wisdom Friday (Golden Stars FC) – Highest goal scorer (50,000 naira)
4 Osaretin Ehigie (Dynamic Stars FC) – Best midfielder (30,000 naira)
In his special words during the award ceremony, Mr Fred Newton Erhumwense thanked the tournament sponsor for the gesture and the good mind of funding the tournament. He also appreciated the organizing committee headed by Chinedu Uba, the Chairman of the Egor local football council, for putting up a well-organized event.