Brook Siders, Babes win BusinessDay 5-Aside trophy

It was fun and excitement as the early morning showers could not stop BusinessDay staff, players and fans from getting into the Mini Stadium, Ibiere Crescent, Apapa, Lagos, for the second edition of BusinessDay 5-Aside Football Tournament.

In the male category, four teams; Brook Bombers, Brook Shooters, Brook Liners and Brook Siders competed for the trophy.

Brook Babes and Brook Angels competed in the female category.

The matches kicked off after a soulful rendition of the Nigerian National anthem by our Off-Duty Editor, Kemi Ajumobi.

In the first game played, Brook Siders, captained by Akhiromen Ezekiel Omo outraned Kola Garuba’s team, Brook Liners 4-2 in a thrilling spectacle.

The second game was between highly rated Brook Bombers against energetic Brook Shooters.

Brook Shooters ran out as winners, defeating Brook Bombers 2-0.

Then came the final match of the day as the Brook Shooters tried all they could to blow the Brook Siders out of the waters. But the Brook Siders showed class, resilient and why they were the defending champion by defeating Brook Shooters 2-1 to retain the trophy.

The high point of the game was in the third place game between Brook Bombers against Brook Liners, the game was keenly contested, but Brook Bombers edged Liners 1-0 to win the third place.

The side attraction of the event was the female final game between Brook Angels tutored by Linda Ochugbua and the rugged Brook Babes tutored by Ijeoma Ude.

The tension soaked cracker saw the Brook Babes retain win the trophy for the female competition by a penalty shootout, after a goalless draw in regulation time.

Dressed in his unique sports outfit, Phillip Isakpa, Editor and executive director, BusinessDay, was on ground to grace the occasion and mentor his team which eventually came third.

BusinessDay staff came out en-mass to cheer their teams despite the heavy downpour.

Apart from trophies won, individual awards and cash prices were handed out to the best male and female players as well as the highest goal scorers in both categories.

The climax of the event was a raffle draw where lucky winners won different prizes ranging from Wiko phones, Swift internet modern, t-shirts, Shoprite vouchers, TECNO phones etc.

Anthony Nlebem