Ayade Football Tourney: Penalties Decide Opening Games

The winners of the two opening games of the Ayade U-15 Football Championships for Secondary Schools in the 18 Local Government Areas of Cross River State were decided through penalty kicks after the games ended 1-1 at full time.

The first of the two games played Monday at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar was between Christian High School, Atakpa and Lightways Schools, Mbukpa.

The match ended 1-1 at full time and in the ensuing penalty shootout, Christian High School ran away with victory after scoring all their five penalty kicks, while Lightways Schools missed one of their five penalty kicks.

In the second match between Hope Waddell Training Institution and FAANSS also at the same venue, it was also a long drawn out battle which ended one goal apiece at full time.

After ten penalty kicks were taken, FAANSS scored 7 while Hope Waddell scored 6 and lost the match eventually.

Captain of the victorious Christian High School, Nsehe Henshaw Effiong, said he was delighted at the victory of his school, adding that they had a very short time to prepare for the match.

He promised that his team would do better in subsequent games.

Coach of the team nicknamed Mourinho by fans, Anderson Anderson M., said the tactical formation he adopted won his team the match.

He said he was not comfortable with the officiating which resulted in a penalty that enabled Lightways Schools to equalize in the first half.

Other opening matches were played across the state simultaneously Monday.

The Chairman of the state’s Sports Commission, Mr Orok Duke, who took the ceremonial kick before the second match started, told journalists at the stadium that he was impressed with what he saw.

He assured that measures had been put in place to ensure that ‘mercenaries’ did not infiltrate the teams participating in the championships.