Ayoola Adeleke
Remo Stars football club on Sunday September 12, held their own against Bendel Insurance to book the remaining ticket to the 2021/2022 NPFL season after playing 2-2 draw at the Nnamdi Azikwe stadium, Enugu.
The match biled to take place a day earlier was postponed by the organizers after protest from both sides over referees appointment and change of venue without timely notifications.
Bendel Insurance as usual went into the match with all forces and plans they had to get early goal which could open door for more, but Remo Stars were more conservative and disciplined to keep the Insurance at bay until Imade Osarenkhoe proved his Coach right for starting him with a goal from a crowdy Remo’s box.
Moments later, Nduka Junior replied the Vipers, their intention on the field for the day as he rose above other players in the opponents’ box to head home from his team’s free kick to level things up for the Soname boys.
Remo went up again with a long range shot to out the Vipers heart in their mouth – a fantastic long range will be a fine word to define the goal that gave the Soname boys advantage over their recent arch rival in Nigerian football.
Insurance were overwhelmed with pressure to go back into the game and were fluffing chances that could have helped them go back into the game. 15 minutes from time Insurance got another goal – a very powerful header from a simple cross revived the hope of Insurance of still making it with less than 14 minutes to play.
After many attacks and tricks, Insurance were pecked back with Remo’s delay tactics all through the remaining minutes of the game. It was final whistle by the center referee, Remo are back in the NPFL after three seasons of absence from the NPFL, while Insurance will go back to the drawing board to plan ahead for another season in the NNL.
In the champions match, Niger Tornadoes proved their dominance in the play offs as they edged Shooting Stars 3 goals to 2 to lift the NNL play offs’ trophy as an icing on the NPFL qualification; the Oluyole Warriors on the other hand will be less sad over the defeat, with their qualification ticket to the NPFL already in their bag, having benn relegated since 2017.
Ayoola Adeleke LIVE from Enugu