By Abayomi Elias
Rather than regret the inconsistency of his football club who was leading two goals ahead of its rivalry team at the final match of 2025 Tedi Peace Corp Football Competition, The CEO of Smilers All Champions Footbal Club Ifesinachi Joachim Okpala who doubles as the host of the tournament expressed excitement as the best team clinched the winning cup.
Newsconnect reports that the well attended final competition was played between the Smiler All Champions FC and FundZ FC. In the first half of the game, Smiler Fc was leading with 2 goals ahead of Fundz FC. The substituted players bycoach Hyginus, Fundz FC coach, changed the tempo of the game which gave them a 2-2 draw in the second half.
Fundz FC scored the third goal and started leading from behind.Smiler All Champions FC later scored a penality kick and made it 3-3 draw at an injury time.The game ended in a penalty shootout.
Smiler All Champions FC consecutively lost 3 penalities, meanwhile, Funds FC scored all the three goals to emerge winner of the 2025 Tedi Football Competition at Ojo Barracks.In an interview with Newsconnect correspondent and the CEO of Smiler All Champions FC Ifesinachi Joachim Okpala, he said ;”You don’t keep winning all the time, sometimes you win, sometimes you also lose.
It will make them to go back to their drawing board because when they were two goals ahead, they felt they have arrived.
”I am also happy that the game is devoid of partiality, despite being the sponsor, we lost at the final because the other team are better prepared.
“You can’t tell me you want to be a footballer and you womanize, you can’t tell me you want to be a footballer you smoke and take alcohol.
“It really shows in the final some of them are not fit,my advise is for them to be fit , be at the right place at the right time, put their hope and pray and trust God”. He said
Coach Hyginus Okoye, the head coach of Fundz FC after the match extolled the fans for their perseverance and support. He attributed the victory to the strategy he adopted in the second half of the game.
”The Fans are fantastic, without the help of the fans, I don’t think we will be able to do this. We give it to the fans, we love the fans.”I had some players on the bench and i knew that once we make some tactical changes with the goals on ground, the game is going to be different.
” I had to turn it from 4 man defense to 3 and I had to push two in attack. I made it double striker to put pressure on their defense and it actually paid off.
“I feel amazed, I feel so much joy with this tournament . The most important thing for me is that I want the boys to go to somewhere else bigger than here, where they can make living, where they can help their families.
“That is my prayer for them. I want transformation in the lives of the players.”As I am talking to you, one of the boys started the tournament with us but he has started a professional contract in Thailand.
”It has been a good tournament, the crowd, the organizing, everything is perfect, so I am saying kudos to the organisers”. He saidThe head coach of Smiley All Champions FC alluded to the fact that his players lost concentration with the 2 goals they scored in the first half of the game.