‘I Read the Eyes of Penalty Takers’ — Mission Side FC and Bet9ja Cup Hero Bazuaye News

Navigation: Home / News / Columnists / ‘I Read the Eyes of Penalty Takers’ — Mission Side FC and Bet9ja Cup Hero Bazuaye

‘I Read the Eyes of Penalty Takers’ — Mission Side FC and Bet9ja Cup Hero Bazuaye

By Daily Sports on May 30, 2019

Mission Side FC, a growing grassroots football club in Benin City, shocked many when they won the just-ended Bet9ja Super Agents Cup competition, a prestigious tournament for youth clubs in Benin City by beating heavily fancied BJ Foundation FC in a thrilling final game that ended in penalty shootouts.

One player who played a very crucial part in Mission Side’s triumph was their goalkeeper Eseosa Bazauye.

The big and vastly experienced goalie was the toast of fans as his ball distribution, sharp reflexes and penalty-saving exploits thrilled many to no end.

I caught up with him after the competition and we spoke about his, and his club’s exploits.

Me: I heard your team lost a player prior to the Bet9ja competition . . .

Bazuaye: Yes. Kingsley Obot was his name. He was a rugged defensive midfielder and was very experienced. He was survived by a wife and a daughter. We were determined to honour his soul by winning the Bet9ja Cup for him.

Me: You guys were not strong favourites prior to the competition. At what point did you think you could win it?

Bazuaye: It was at the quarter finals. We beat a strong rival, Bokas FC, 3-0 and that’s when we started to really believe.

Me: Going into your match with BJ in the final, you must have been aware your team were not favorites. How did this feel?

Bazuaye: We saw ourselves as favourites even though we were aware most people didn’t think we were.

Me: You saved a lot of penalty kicks for your team right from the quarter-finals to the final. Do you consider yourself a penalty specialist?

Bazuaye: My penalty saves were down to experience and sheer luck.

Me: I like the experience part. Can you tell me more about it?

Bazuaye: Actually, I read the eyes of the penalty takers and I have saved a lot. We had a penalty shootout in a tournament last December and I caught 4 out of 5.

Me: How do you tell where they will most likely put the ball?

Bazuaye: I look at where their eyes are focused on immediately they drop the ball at the penalty spot. (That’s where they most likely place the kick).

Bazuaye