Lobi, Heartland in Fed. Cup Final Showdown

Already the city is abuzz as teeming supporters of the two gladiators have since hit Lagos and are drumming support for their teams. While defending champions, Heartland will be aiming at winning the Cup back to back, Lobi Stars are gunning for their second title having won the prestigious trophy in 2003. It promises to […]

Already the city is abuzz as teeming supporters of the two gladiators have since hit Lagos and are drumming support for their teams. While defending champions, Heartland will be aiming at winning the Cup back to back, Lobi Stars are gunning for their second title having won the prestigious trophy in 2003.

It promises to be a difficult match for both sides but based on current form, Lobi Stars look more favoured to lift the trophy. To qualify for finals, Heartland defeated Prime FC 3-0 in a penalty shootout while their opponents Lobi Stars also went past Kano Pillars 5-4 on penalties after a barren draw in the regulation time.

To get to the semi-finals, the two finalists surmounted near insurmountable obstacles. Heartland beat Nembe City in the round of 62, defeated Unicem Rovers in the round of 32 to qualify for the group stage. In the group stage, the millionaires beat Plateau United 1-0, drew 1-1 against Nasarawa United, played goalless draw against Gombe United to qualify for the quarters. In the quarter final, Heartland edged out Crown FC 2-0.

For Lobi Stars, it was a kind of roller-coaster as the Benue State team walloped Flash Flamingoes 4-1 in the round of 64, beat fellow NPL side, Niger Tornadoes 2-0 in the round of 32 to qualify for the group stage. At the Bauchi zone, Lobi defeated Samba FC of Enugu 1-0 before shooting past Enyimba 1-0 to reach the quarter finals. Lobi beat Sharks 3-1 in the quarters to set up their semi-final clash against Pillars.

Looking at the semi-final pairings dispassionately, football pundits tagged the clash between Lobi Stars and Kano Pillars as the final before final. The two clubs, Lobi and Pillars are running neck to neck for the NPL title and before now, the two were gunning for the double.

The semi-final matches are already history as Lobi Stars and Heartland now have a bigger challenge on their hands. The Sunday final  is a battle that no club wants to take prisoners because the whiff of the new giant trophy donated by the Lagos State government is irresistible.

Heartland would be coming into tomorrow’s match with a rich pedigree but Lobi Stars have proved that they are no respecter of names whether big or small. For the past weeks, Lobi has dominated the headlines and Iorfa tutored lads appear not ready to blink.

Already the two finalists are talking tough as each is optimistic it would lift the coveted trophy. Lobi Stars vice-chairman and technical adviser, Mr. Dominic Iorfa Mtem was the first to speak with Shot! when he said he does not believe in making noise on the pages of newspapers and the airwaves.

He said this is Lobi Stars year of history and nobody can stop that from coming to reality tomorrow. Iorfa said as defending champions, Heartland deserves some respect but that would not stop his team from proving its supremacy.

“As you rightly noted, Sunday’s finals is not going to be an easy one for both sides. However, if you look at our run up to the finals, you will agree with me that Lobi is destined to lift this trophy. Take a look at the teams we have beaten to get to this stage.

“Having gone past Pillars, we are highly motivated. When we were to take on Pillars everybody said whoever survives will automatically win the finals. Having come out victorious, I think we are good to go.”

Iorfa said Lobi is presently enjoying massive support from the state government and the final is where everybody will practically see the support he has been talking about.

“We are one of the best motivated clubs in the country. The players are comfortable and they are ready to lay down their lives for the team. We are not underrating Heartland but I cannot see how Lobi won’t leave Lagos with the trophy. In all things, I thank God who has taken us this far.

Lobi Stars will be counting on junior international, Anthony Okpotu for the goals and the experience of veteran mid-fielder, David Tyavkase for stability in the centre of the pack. Okpotu told Shot! that he will score to give Lobi victory over Heartland.

“I am in form and since I did not score in the semi-final, I am sure I will score in the finals. Everybody knows me now as Lobi Stars marksman and if they decide to pay too much attention on me, another player will wreck them.

“We have good strikers in Lobi who can score even if I am stopped from scoring. But I am confident I will put my name on the scorer’s sheet”.

Tyavkase said it is a golden opportunity for him to add another silver ware to his cabinet and he will give his best in tomorrow’s finals. “Opportunities like this don’t come often and I am going to make maximum use of this one”.

“I will give my best for Lobi to win. I know that Heartland are talking of winning the Cup back to back but they are not going to stop us for winning our second trophy”, he assured.

Meanwhile, Heartland’s striker, Bartholomew Ibenegbu said Lobi Stars is a good side but they won’t stop Heartland from winning the trophy back to back.

He said it is one match Heartland is going to face squarely, if they are going to come out victorious. Lobi Stars are a good side and we are equally good. It is going to be a very difficult match.

“This is one match we are going to face squarely. If we make the mistake of not taking our chances, we would pay dearly. I want to score in the final but it is for God to decide who scores. We would play for one another to get the needed result”.

On his part, former junior international, Bello Kofar-mata said the trophy belongs to Heartland and Lobi should not think of winning tomorrow’s match.

“We are not new to each other. We have met twice this season and they defeated us in their home while we defeated them in our home. This is to say we are the same in terms of strength. We are not going to find Lobi easy to beat but in the end, we would carry the day”.

The two gladiators boast of quality players who can make any finals of such magnitude a memorable one. While Lobi Stars will parade immensely talented players like former African champion, David Tyavkase, Anthony Okpotu, Moses Orkuma, Jonah Abutu, Terna Ikpeen Emmanuel Ajia, Emmanuel Sarki, Luter Iyorhe, Moses Bunde, Ezekiel Bassey and charismatic goalkeeper John Lawrence, Heartland boasts of quality players like Bartholomew Ibenegbu, Bello Kofarmata, Chinedu Efugh, Brendan Ogbu and Kabiru Umar.