Lobi, Heartland set Teslim Balogun alight

The venue appropriately named after one superb hero (Teslim 'Thunder' Balogun) will readily come alive on Sunday when Cup holders Heartland FC of Owerrri entertain Lobi Stars of Makurdi in what is primed to be one of the most memorable finals ever staged.

Teslim ‘Thunder' Balogun, who died 40 years ago last month, is still a living lion in the memory of many who saw him decimate opponents with the ease of a medical doctor prescribing drug for a patient. He was also Nigeria's first authentic goalscoring hero, leading the UK Tourists' (later Red Devils) line before coaching the Senior National Team to the 1968 Olympic Games Men's Football Tournament in Mexico City.

Lobi Stars, also in the hunt for the Nigeria Premier League title, outflanked Kano Pillars on penalties in Calabar on Wednesday while the champions also got the better of surprise packets Prime FC on penalties in Ilorin.

Already, the Lagos State Government has made adequate arrangements to have 10,000 secondary school students fill up a part of the 23,000 – capacity venue, with other spectators occupying the rest to make for a full house on a glamour day.

Activities at the venue will start at 12 noon, with musical entertainment and comedy shows for the crowd, before the arrival of special guests and dignitaries, as well as Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) of Lagos State, who has donated a giant new trophy for the competition.

Governors Gabriel Suswan and Rochas Okorocha, whose teams are involved in the final match, are also expected.

Chairman of the ruling People's Democratic Party, Alhaji (Dr) Bamanga Tukur, Deputy Chairman, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, Sports Minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, Inspector General of Police M. D. Abubakar, Chairman of Senate Committee on Sports Adamu Gumba and Chairman of House of Reps' Committee on Sports Godfrey Ali Gaiya have also been invited to grace the occasion.

Lobi Stars won the Federation Cup, then known as Challenge Cup, in 2003 after a 2-0 whiplash of Sharks FC of Port Harcourt. The club then lost the 2005 final to then African champions Enyimba FC of Aba on penalties, after both teams battled to a 1-1 draw.

Heartland FC, then known as Iwuanyanwu Nationale, humiliated Flash Flamingoes of Benin 3-0 in the 1988 final and then pipped Oriental rivals Enyimba Fc 1-0 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium last year.

http://www.kickoff.com/news/30033/heartland-fc-of-owerrri-entertain-lobi-stars-of-makurdi-in-cup-final

3rd place match is going to start by 2pm at the same venue between Kano Pillars and Prime FC.

Gate fee is 300, 500 and 1,000 naira respectively and any of these tickets qualifies for both matches.

http://www.supersport.com/football/nigeria/news/120826/Heartland_retain_cup_in_the_rain

[size=16pt]Heartland retain cup in the rain[/size]

Heartland on Sunday retained their Federation Cup title after defeating Lobi Stars 2-1 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

Lobi Stars' head coach, Dominic Iorfa surprisingly kept striker Tony Okpotu on the bench while his Heartland counterpart, Ndubuisi Nduka opted to play without a recognisable front man.

Surprisingly Heartland's Dutch coach, Lodewijk de Kruif watched from the stands as his side defended their Cup title.

But it was Lobi that made the dream start with left-back Bassey Ezekiel putting his side in front five minutes into the game.

Ezekiel is one of 11 players profiled recently by supersport.com as the most underrated in the Nigeria Premier League (NPL).

Twenty-five minutes later, Heartland's petite winger, Jolly Osas made the game even at the break.

Both teams battled for the middle of the park in the business end of the game.

Iorfa then threw in Okpotu and Emmanuel Ajia in a bid to see off the Naze Millionaires.

On 74 minutes, Moses Bunde's corner kick picked out Ezekiel, who nodded at goal but Heartland goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi gathered the goal-bound effort.

Four minutes later, Osas cut inside his marker at the left channel, then tries to chip John Lawrence, who caught the ball with ease.

Substitute Ogbu nearly nodded Heartland in front off Osas Okoro's cross on 87 minutes but Lawrence caught the ball just off his head.

Sensing the game will go into penalties, Nduka sent on reserve keeper and penalty-stopping specialist, Chijioke 'Arugo Monkey' on for Akpeyi with two minutes left to play.

Two minutes into added time, Okoro put Ibenegbu through on goal, his shot was palmed away by Lawrence.

The resultant corner then lead to the winner, as Ogbu flicked the ball past a stunned Lawrence in goal from Osas' cross.

It is the first time that any team will win the Cup back-to-back since 2007 when Dolphins achieved that feat.[/quote]

Up heathland,the Naze millionaires. The club won the cup last year and it has done it again this year. Proudly Imolite

iykak47: Up heathland,the Naze millionaires. The club won the cup last year and it has done it again this year. Proudly Imolite

But Rochas has not been paying the players. A news report had that they were going for finals with empty stomach.

Up Heartland of Owerri.

I pray Enugu Rangers wins the league. Though as it is, it looks like a tall order.

supereagle:
But Rochas has not been paying the players. A news report had that they were going for finals with empty stomach.

Abeg make i hear word jare, it's all about their victory and not all this negative bla bla bla

It pained me because Heartland won, Lobi star looked more like a better club but i was also against them for using "wuruwuru" with the help of the ref to beat my team Kano pillars in the semis.

All in all, it was a nice match even though the rain almost screwed up. watched it and enjoyed my time with my loved ones.

It's a shame that this FA cup final thread didn't grace the frontpage. But if it's Wigan VS Stoke, Mukina won't waste anytime to put it on the fp.

afam4eva: It's a shame that this FA cup final thread didn't grace the frontpage. But if it's Wigan VS Stoke, Mukina won't waste anytime to put it on the fp.

You dey mind her? hehehe

afam4eva: It's a shame that this FA cup final thread didn't grace the frontpage. But if it's Wigan VS Stoke, Mukina won't waste anytime to put it on the fp.

very big shame

iykak47: Up heathland,the Naze millionaires. The club won the cup last year and it has done it again this year. Proudly Imolite

Great achievement from my home team! The good old days of Spartans and Iwuanyanwu Nationale are back!! I couldn't make it to the Stadium to cheer them up due to another pressing engagement.