The Abeokuta, Ogun State branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria at the weekend emerged winners of the 32nd edition of the CBN Governor’s Cup with a 3-2 win on penalties over the Abuja branch after both sides failed to score during open play inside the mainbowl of Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, Enugu State.
The Abuja side had the game under control but failed to convert the numerous chances they created and in the penalty shoot-out, they lost three of their kicks while the champions converted three of their own to cart home the giant trophy and prize money of N.8 million.
The runner-up, Abuja branch, went home with N.6 million with the second runner-up, Calabar branch, coached by former Heartland defender, Bob Osim, that defeated Lagos branch 4-2 on penalties, going home with N.4 million while the Lagos team went home with N.2 million.
Captain of the victorious Abeokuta team, Abdulrazak Yusuf, who has been participating in the competition since 1990 and almost fifty years, was filled with joy as he said after receiving the trophy from the CBN Governor’ representative at the occasion, Chizoba Mojekwu: “I am very happy to have led my team to this trophy.
“We are not new to winning the trophy but this one is very special to me as it might be my last after a long time with the competition.
“We came here to win and that is what we achieved.
“We know our opponent had very talented set of players so we came here to contain them and hope for fast breaks, which did not come till the end of the game and we then won the game on penalties.
“I am very happy for this great feat.”
In his address, read by his representative, Chizoba Mojekwu, the Director, Human Resources Department, the CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, thanked all the branches for their excellent show of skills on and off the pitch while congratulating the winners for their dexterity and determination to win.
The controller, Enugu Branch of CBN, Nwankwo B.C, in an interview, said: “I am very pleased that we had a very smooth organisation of the finals of 2012 CBN Governor’s Cup and I am quite sure that the best team emerged champion at the end of the day.
“I congratulate the Abeokuta team just as I promise them that Enugu branch will be too hot to handle in the next edition.”
Medals and trophies were presented to the top three branches in the competition while Abuja Branch shot stopper, Adeniyi Adetunji, was voted the MVP of the competition.
Isiaka Ogah, also of Abuja branch, emerged the top scorer of the competition with nine goals while Lagos branch was adjudged the Best Behaved team of the competition that started in May, 2012 with 37 branches of the apex bank participating.