By Daily Sports on August 1, 2019

The Edo State League for grassroots clubs enters its semi-final stages after a couple of very exciting quarter final games that took place on Tuesday, July 30, at the S&T barracks in Isihor, Benin city. The State League is the highest grassroots competition in the calendar of the NFF.

Defending champions BJ Foundation and fast-rising club Eagles United wrapped up the quarter final fixtures with a high tempo and explosive match that didn’t disappoint as the main event.

BJ are a club known for their quick and suffocating press and for going with frightening aggression to score early goals in big games and they were true to type in this game.

Top striker Precious Ediae led the BJ hunt and was able supported by Innocent and Purpose and, immediately, Eagles Wings became a team under siege.

Several shots were fired by BJ Foundation attackers and midfielders in that early intense raid and required desperate blocks by the Eagles Wings defenders and some fine goalkeeping by the Eagles Wings goalkeeper Baduro to keep the scoreline goalless.

Eagles Wings had come into the game as a team in red hot form, winning their two group games (9-0 and 3-0)while BJ were unconvincing in their own group games, scraping through 2-1 versus Freedom Assembly and managing to come back from 1-3 down in the first half to draw 4-4 against unfancied Adia Sports FC. But the Douglas Idahosa-owned club have a knack for rising up to the occasion of big games and reminded everyone with their first half ferocity why they are defending champions.

The second half saw Eagles Wings making some tactical adjustments and the game became more balanced as the two teams threatened in equal measure.

Then Eagles Wings introduced enterprising young midfielder Ugiagbe and the boy simply altered the course of the game as his close control, intelligent movement, brave heart and unbelievably good passes helped go swing the pressure against BJ Foundation.

But Eagles Wings were cut with a sucker punch looking counter attack by BJ with just about two minutes left to the close of the match. Skipper Solomom Osaghae picked up the ball in the center circle and fired a long high ball which striker Purpose collected brilliantly at the edge of the opponents’ box and paced to the edge of the six-yard box and placed a fine strike which kissed the far post and proved too hard for Baduro to reach.

It seemed like the match would be settled by just that goal but Eagles Wings and Ugiagbe in particular refused to lie down and die.

The petite midfielder, who is in the mould of those fine Spanish midfielders who have graced the game, pierced the space between BJ center back Victor and right back Uba with a superb through pass which was collected by an advancing Eagles Wings winger. He squared and despite an initial goal line clearance, Eagles Wings equalised with a low and hard shot in the 6-yard box.

Ugiagbe then produced a similar superb pass that seemed to have settled the game in his team’s favor but the assistant ref raised her flag for offside with the center referee agreeing. There were shouts from fans that it was the wrong call but the game went to penalty kicks seconds later.

‘Saha’ lost Eagles Wings first kick and it proved costly as BJ scored all their five kicks to win 6-5.

BJ Foundation will now meet Bokas FC in the first semi-final of the State League on Thursday afternoon at the same venue.

Bokas made easy work of Royal Force in their quarter final game, winning 3-0 and playing some dazzling sweet passing football to outwit their opponents.

***

Benard Ogbe’s appointment as Bendel Insurance Technical Adviser hailed

Bendel Insurance FC of Benin have a new Technical Adviser and he is Benard Ogbe the widely-traveled and seasoned coach who is expected to bring his wealth of experience to bear in trying to help Insurance secure promotion back to the NPFL.

The club suffered the ignominy of being relegated last season after getting back into the NPFL after about a decade of absence.

A football player who has traversed the country and has worked with a number of coaches including Ogbe opines that the coach has what it takes to lift Insurance to great heights.

Stanley Osas Aigbe, who has played for several clubs including Bukola Babes, Rangers International and Lobi Stars, urges Insurance fans to believe in Ogbe’s ability to lift the club.

“Ogbe is a good tactician and he works hard in the training to meticulously prepare his teams. He has a reach history if coaching the game and he can help Insurance if everyone pulls together,” Aigbe was quoted as saying in one report.

The 25-year-old attacking midfielder, who was unfortunate to have suffered an injury that kept him out long term, is back to good form now. He’s been training with Benin City-based grassroots club Osabu FC and has shown his trademark flashes of dribbling and passing brilliance that have been very appreciated by players, coaches and fans of the club as well as those who’ve watched him play.

Aigbe is rearing to go now and a number of top clubs and foreign sides could benefit from his good form.

•Photo shows Aigbe in action in a Nigerian league game

Source Daily Sports

Posted August 1, 2019

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