F.A Victory players jubilating with gold cup and prize cheque after winning the final of the 13th edition of the Gafaar Bolowotan Gold Cup in Ikorodu on Sunday.
The defending champions of the Bolowotan Gold Cup, F.A Victory Football Club, on Sunday, August 15, 2021, successfully defended their title against NTAB FC at a well – attended match played at the Strong Tower Academy Arena, along Obafemi Awolowo, Oke Ota – Ona, Ikorodu.
The tournament was organized by the Ikorodu Divisional Football Association (IDFA), an affiliate of the Lagos State Football Association, in conjunction with the Gafaar Bolowotan Foundation.
The two finalists, F A Victory FC and NTAB FC, played a 2-2 draw at the end of the duration and went into penalty shootouts which ended 4-3 in favour of the defending champions were the home team.
Both teams have now won the cup twice.
The champions, F.A Victory FC, carted home N300, 000 prize money while the runners – up, NTAB FC received a cheque of N200, 000 prize money.
NTAB FC player, Salami Ismail opened scoring in the 12th minute of the first half while Femi Walker of F.A Victory FC equalised in the 24th minutes.
The enthralling match also saw the defending champions taking the lead in the 28th minute with a goal from their player, Segun Walker while Salami Arisekola leveled the score for NTAB FC in the 33rd minute of the first half.
The match was officiated by Toheeb Agbabiaka while the duo of Segun Oladosu and Saheed Ayeni served as Assistant Referees.
The premiership league referee who was recently badged by FIFA, Yemisi Akintoye was the fourth official.
The third runners-up, Adebax FC, received #100,000 prize money after winning the third – place match 2- 0 against Greater Height FC who also got #50,000 for their efforts. Sadiq Oladosu served as the fourth official in the match while Kabir Baoku (rtd) was the Match Commissioner.
Sadiq Oladosu served as the fourth official in the match while Kabir Baoku (rtd) was the Match Commissioner.
Others at the closing ceremony and final match of the much-loved football tournament were Barr Seyi Akinwunmi, the first Vice President, NFF and Chairman, Lagos Football Association (FA), Prince Jimoh Ogunumuyiwa, a retired referee and patron of the IDFA, Dr Ahmed Odeyemi, a lecture at the National Sports Institute (NIS), Alhaji Saheed Ayeni, FIFA, a referee assessor and Alhaji Kola Akinsanya, the President of the Grassroots Sports Development Forum and Safety Ambassador, Coach Jones Olomu, a football coach, Mr Edema Benson, an ex-international among other notable retired referees, ex-internationals and coaches.
Also, the Director-General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr. Toyin Gafaar Bolowotan who is the sponsor of the tournament, led members of the Governing Board of the Sports Commission, including the representatives of the Ikorodu Division, Dr. Abiodun Fatai – Abatan, Adeshina Ogundiran, Olanrewaju Saheed, and others, to The 13th edition of the Bolowotan Cup, also called the ‘Ikorodu World Cup’, started on June 13, 2021, with 32 teams.
