MATCH REPORT: MFM FC 0-2 REMO STARS FC
Remo Stars Football Club (RSFC) commenced their return into the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) with a comfortable 0-2 win over Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Football Club (MFM FC) at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, formerly known as Onikan Stadium, Lagos.
The match which marked the opener for the 2021/2022 League season saw the Sky Blue Stars score twice in the second 45 minutes of the game after a very competitive start.
Both sides started brilliantly but it was the visitors, Remo Stars who had the first attempt at goal after Tolulope Ojo received a long pass from Dayo Ojo, he took at once and the ball went straight into the hands of Osayi Kingdom.
The host, MFM FC had their first opportunity from a free kick, Precious Roland sent in the kick and Oludayo Alabi almost put them ahead but his attempt went over the bar.
It was the Olukoya Boys that continued to pile up pressure on the visitors until the thirty-third minute when Ifeanyi Ojukwu tried to put the Sky Blue ahead after he calmly displaced his marker on the left but Osayi Kingdom put his hand to it.
Before halftime, the Sky Blue Stars had double opportunities to go ahead but Isah Ali’s freekick was punched away from Osayi Kingdom before denying Ismail Sodiq’s immediate attempt.
Akanni Qudus finally broke the deadlock for the Sky Blue Stars in the fifty-fifth minute after pouncing on Ifeanyi Ojukwu’s pass to give the visitors the deserved lead.
Just immediately after the deadlock, the Olukoya Boys had the chance to level things up but Adebayo Oyedele was too anxious to nod in but Bankole Kayode stood tall to deny.
Samuel Anakwe was later introduced for Ojo Tolulope and immediately got the opportunity to increase the tally for the Sky Blue Stars but flipped it over the bar.
Osayi Kingdom continued to put the host in the game until the final minutes after Dayo Ojo got the ball, he dribbled past his marker on the edge of the box to send in a cross and finally Andy Okpe taps in to make it two for the Sky Blue Stars.
Next for the Sky Blue Stars is a home game against Heartland Football Club at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State.
Ogunbote Exicted Over Victory Against MFM FC
Head Coach of Remo Stars Football Club (RSFC), Gbenga Ogunbote have termed the 0-2 victory over Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Football Club (MFM FC) a sweet one after his boys picked up maximum points away from home at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan in the 2021/2022 league opener.
Akanni Qudus and Andy Okpe scored in the 55th and 90th minutes to give the Sky Blue Stars their first victory in the NPFL since returning to top-flight football.
Speaking with RSFC Media, he says the victory was a sweet one simply because they have termed Remo Stars an underdog in the league.
“It was a sweet one, they call us underdog because we are a new team in the premiership. Just like I did say, but we won’t be carried away with it.”
“It’s just match day one in the league, we still have thirty-seven games to play but it’s a good one for us and I think it will strengthen our confidence level.”
“Nobody won’t tell you he won’t win, MFM FC came to win, we also came to win but thank God we were able to take our chances, and we did our best.”
“Just like I told the players, it is not news, but we need to defend our integrity which we did. They were not under pressure and all we needed to do was to go home with a positive result, and they did.”
“There was not much to be said, I told them it could become anybody’s game. All we needed to do was to have a goal ahead of them, once we have a goal, then our confidence level will rise which did and I know that the moment we scored that goal, they were desperate to equalize, so we were waiting to punish them with a counter. I wish we got but unfortunately, we didn’t.”
“We put a head fight, they have been in the Premiership, so all we needed to do was to put up a good fight to ensure that we get it right.”
I feel Excited Scoring my first NPFL Goal – Akanni
Man of the Match, Akanni Qudus has said he is excited to have scored his first league goal in the NPFL against Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in the opening fixture.
Akanni Qudus put the Sky Blue Stars ahead in the fifty-fifth minute after he connected well to Ifeanyi Ojukwu’s pass, he took with precision and it ball went into the back of the net.
Speaking with RSFC Media, Akanni Qudus says it felt so good because that was his first game in the league.
“I feel excited to have scored my first goal in the NPFL because it wasn’t easy to have won the heart of the head coach in previous preseason games.”
“I give God Almighty the glory, I will continue to work hard and ensure I don’t have a drop in form this season but I want to give my best and also help them with our set target this season.”
“We will return home, prepare for out next couple of games if we want to stay in the NPFL the season, if won’t be easy, but we will try our best in all games.” Akanni Qudus.
Media Manager
Oladimeji Oshode
Study @ Achievers University
