NNL: NSC DG, Olopade hails Sporting Lagos, tips team for promotion

By Tayo Ogunseye, who was in Abeokuta

Director General of National Sports Commission (NSC) Hon Bukola Olopade has described Sporting Lagos as a very good side.

Bukola stated this after watching Sporting make a mince meat of Stormers FC of Abeokuta at the MKO Abiola Stadium Abeokuta in one of the NNL games decided on Sunday.

The encounter which ended 1-5 in favor of the promotion chasing Lagos side was one that produced a result which many never expected given the fact that a victory for the homers would have equally brightened their promotion chances.

In the words of Olopade after the game, the encounter was one that lived up to its billing even as he added that Sporting has a side that that is good enough for NPFL.

“We have watched a beautiful match. Sporting has a very good side, I won’t be surprised if they gain promotion at the end of the race…” Olopade stated.

Olopade who noted that the NNL is running very well went ahead to splash Sporting with some cash for putting up a good show in the encounter.

Chairman of Sporting Lagos Godwin Enakhena while appreciating Olopade’s rare gesture said what happened in Abeokuta shows that we are gradually getting right in our domestic football.

In Enakhena’s words…”What happened in Abeokuta on Sunday rekindled my hope in the league.

What happened wasn’t about the result of the game but the gamesmanship displayed by the NSC DG, Hon Bukola Olopade and the management of Stormers FC. He owns the team.

With less than 5 minutes into the encounter, the DG said to me “Godwin, you’ve a very good team and I’m really impressed”. This was very good to hear. And when Sporting Lagos scored, he said he knew that we were the better side.

Another act by the DG that won me over was when the hosts goalkeeper fouled a SL attacker outside the box and Ozo said “Godwin, that’s a red card to my goalkeeper. I’ll be shocked if the referee don’t send him off”. And he was sent off. He applauded the match officials decisions, and only had a few reservations, but he was full of praise for them at the end of the encounter.

The DG further wowed me when he said he’ll want to appreciate the Sporting Lagos kids for their brilliant performance. He came down to address them and promised them millions of naira in dollars.

What’s interesting about the game was that Stormers FC of Abeokuta needed a win to stand a very good chance of gaining promotion to the NPFL. But here was the owner of the club, Hon Bukola Olopade not doing what a lot of people in his position would’ve done. A win for Stormers would’ve taken them to within a fighting chance of playing in the NPFL next season. Here’s a team that had just defeated Osun United away in their penultimate game.

Thank you, Ozo for this uncommon sportsmanly attitude that is not common in our game in Nigeria.

My prayer is that may football in Nigeria see more of what happened in Abeokuta on Sunday. Amen.”