The 3rd Bola Akindele Cup organized by the Lagos State Grassroot Soccer Association kicked off officially on the 14th of July, 2019. The host and sponsor of the tourney Dr. Adebola Akindele made good of his promise by taking up the challenge of adding the girls into the picture. So the 2019 tournament had the usual Under 15 (U-15) category for boys and the Under 16 (U-16) made its debut for the girls’ category.
The tournament which lasted 4 weeks was brought to a close on August 4, 2019, with Peak Girls of Ipaja edging B & B Ladies on penalties to win the maiden girls tournament. The game ended in a 1:1 stalemate in regulation time before the Peak Girls won 7:6 on penalties.
In the boys final, River FC despite going ahead in the game were pegged back by the free-flowing football put on display by the Zola FC lads. The game ended 1:1 in regulation time but Zola FC were able to shake off the pressure of playing penalties by burying all 5 of their penalties. River FC lost 1 of their 5 spot kicks which meant Zola FC won the tie 5:4 on penalties and were crowned champions.
The top 4 teams were rewarded with cash prizes by Dr. Akindele with winners of the tournament Peak Girls and Zola FC going away with N400, 000 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira Only), B & B Ladies and River FC were gifted with N300, 000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira Only). The third and fourth-placed sides were also given N200, 000 (Bush FC and Young Star) and N100, 000 (Fash Babes and Talented FC) respectively.
We look forward to the 2020 edition of the competition.
