Lebanese emerges winner of Panenka Spot-Kick Challenge

A Lebanese, Hassan Akar, has emerged winner of the maiden edition of Panenka Spot-Kick Challenge, pocketing N100,000 cash prize.

Panenka Spot-Kick Challenge is a knockout styled game show in which the last man standing wins a penalty contest between a designated number of contestants.

The penalty kick challenge, held in Benin, Edo State recently, was keenly contested by 11 players comprising eight males and three females.

The competition had three knock-out stages.

Each player was allowed to take a shot on the goal, while it was defended by a goalkeeper.

Five players were eliminated in the first round and four players in the second round, leaving Akar and Peter Arewan to contest in the final round.

Arewan, the last Nigerian standing and fan’s delight, couldn’t find the net as the goalkeeper intercepted the shot.

Though the goalkeeper followed Akar’s shot to the right, the ball was too fast for him to interrupt its movement into the goal post.

While congratulating Akar, the promoter of the event, Osahon Aimiuwu, said though penalty kicks seem very easy, but are not really easy to score as most people would think.

Aimiuwu said: “In Panenka Spot-Kick Challenge, contestants essentially gain physical and psychological exercise benefits in attempting to repeatedly successfully convert their penalty kicks while ultimately standing the chance of improving their welfare by winning the designated prize money and other significant gift items.”

The audience was also treated to an entertaining spectacle in watching an unpredictably intriguing game show with varying art appearances/performances in between the game show, which heightened the entertainment of the maiden edition.