Niger Flickers wins Hockey League

.Bayelsa retains female crown

The Niger Flickers of Minna on Saturday in Abuja dethroned defending champions, the Yobe Desert Rollers of Damaturu, to win the 2012 IEI National Premier Hockey League’s male championship.

A sudden death goal in the sixth minutes of the extra time from Yohanna Farouk, gave the Minna side a 3-2 win after regulation time play had ended 2-2.

In the match at the Astro-turf hockey pitch of the Abuja National Stadium, the Flickers demonstrated their superiority by scoring when it mattered.

With goalkeeper, Agada Shaibu, making good saves and the duo of Bala Murtala and Zailani Iliya, providing good cover many times, the Desert Rollers held off the Minna side several times in the game.

Good play by Saleh Umar, Jauro Iliya and Tinat Jonathan, ensured that the defending champions stayed in the game with enterprising build-ups for Abdulmajidin Nayola and Bala Hussaini.

It was, however, Bala Hussaini (Jnr), who came off the bench in the 24th minute to put the Damaturu side ahead after 29th minutes of play.

Niger Flickers’ response was swift with Farouk producing the goal to draw them level three minutes later.

They dominated the game with team Captain, Adamu Kolo, outstanding at the rear to prop Ndana Baba and Lamido Auwalu for good offensive support for Faruk.

In the 14th minutes of the second half Kolo put the Niger Flickers in the driving seat, only for Nayola to take the game into extra time with his 66th minute goal after brilliant play by Jauro and Hussaini.

But in the sixth minute of extra time, Faruk collected a short pass at the edge of the striking arc and made a swift turn to blast past Agada for the winning goal.

Niger Flickers’ head coach, Mohammed Isah, was elated with his side’s performance at the end of the match, saying it was a performance he was very happy with.

“I am very much happy because my team really played well in spite of the strong opposition.

“It is this same team that beat us in last year’s final 3-1 right here at this venue and coming to beat them today is really something we must cherish for long,’’ he said.

The coach, however, said it was a much deserved victory as his team really worked for the feat.

“We really worked for this victory because the players and officials sacrificed a lot for it. We camped in Abuja for 14 days before the event and endured having to miss some things.’’

On his part, the Desert Rollers’ head coach, Fate Jibrin, said he was not dejected with the defeat, saying he saw losing as a normal thing.

“It was a good game and I see the defeat as normal. It is a natural thing in sports. You either lose or win and for about five years now we have been winning this title.

“Today’s loss was all due to ill luck as it is and we are not God. That’s how He wanted the game to go,’’ he said.

Earlier in the day at the same venue, the Union Bank of Lagos had won the third-place match by beating the Kano State Flickers 1-0.

At the end of the competition, Collins Ifeanyi of Union Bank, was adjudged the Most Valuable Player (MVP), while Auwalu Lamido of Niger Flickers, won the highest goal scorer award with six goals.

In the female competition, the Bayelsa Queens of Yenagoa retained their title with a 1-0 win over the Yobe Desert Queens of Damaturu, in a repeat of the 2011 competition’s final match.

The Plateau Queens won the third-place game in the competition with a 1-0 defeat against the I-G Babes of Kaduna.

Ajuma Ejegwa of Yobe Desert Queens won the female competition’s MVP, while Mary Ogan with five goals, won the highest goal scorer award.

The four teams in the two finals have now qualified to represent Nigeria at continental club championships later this year.

Niger Flickers and Yobe Desert Rollers will play in the African Male Club Championship in Accra, Ghana.

 On their part, Bayelsa Queens and Yobe Desert Queens will play in the championship’s female version in Zimbabwe.