Sporting Supreme, Naija Ratels triumph in FCT FA Cup

Sporting Supreme U19 and Naija Ratels emerged as the champions of the FCT President Federation Cup in the male and female categories, respectively.

While the Sporting Supreme U19 team defeated their senior team by 2 goals to 1, Naija Ratels whitewashed NAF by 3 goals to nothing as both teams carted home the giant gold trophies at stake at the end of regulation time.

The outcome of the game notwithstanding, the four teams will represent the FCT in this year’s President’s Federation Cup at the national level and compete against teams from across the country.

Speaking with journalists after the game, the Secretary of the FCT FA, Haruna Usman Ilerika, commended the teams for an outstanding display of football artistry and for exhibiting the spirit of sportsmanship in the course of the matches.

Usman Ilerika said, “I think it’s a very good one considering the levels at which the two teams (Sporting Supreme) came to the final. They displayed a very high technical way of playing. I’m not surprised. At the beginning we were thinking that the U19 team would just be a pushover.

“They came from one group and all of a sudden, they pushed one of the best teams in Abuja out, that is City FC. From there, it became a task for everybody, and today I’m not surprised that they became champions. They are ruthless in the attack and that’s the most important thing.

“Age is very important in the game, and they’ve been able to show that as young boys, you have the resilience, you have the energy, you have the technical ability and the tactical skills to be able to manage 90 minutes.”

“The senior also did well, but that sense of urgency in the younger boys gave them the victory. They (U19) were hungry for goals, and the bigger boys thought there was time when there was to time.

“Everyone thought the final was going to be a one-way traffic, but it lived up to the billing, and it was a fantastic and mouthwatering final. We saw good progression, good transition and good control of the ball that you need in a game was exhibited by these boys.

“We believe that these teams will give FCT a good representation at the national level and will make us proud,” he added.

However, a former Super Falcons player, Mary O God’spower, has appealed to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to resuscitate the FCT Queens to give a platform to abundant young and talented girls in the territory to ply their trade and show their skills to the world.

She said, “This is the Federal Capital Territory where I expected to see so many teams owned by the government, as far as female teams are concerned. A man from nowhere killed FCT Queens. Things are not really moving the way one expected and we need to motivate these girls.

“We are looking forward to the person who will wake up tomorrow and say I want (female) teams in Abuja. We have talented girls who are ready to play football, but no motivation, no encouragement. I’m an ex-player, and with what I’ve seen today, I’m not happy.

“I was thinking that after disbanding the FCT Queens, somebody else will wake up and say we are bringing female teams back in Abuja so that we can have better quality.

“What I saw today as a coach and a former player didn’t show quality. And the reason is a lack of motivation because good players will not go to where there is no money because football now is a big business.

“But if the minister decides today that they want a team that will represent FCT and bring the money, we’ll get quality players that will give FCT good representation at home and outside the country.”