Hundreds of football fans who stormed the Emokpae football field in Benin-City all went home happy after a beautiful display of soccer artistry for 90 minutes by erstwhile greats of the game who gathered together to celebrate the end of the year.
The match, an annual ritual on the last day of the year by the Emokpae/Douala Veterans Club, witnessed the presence of ex- stars who won laurels for Clubs and country all through their illustrious careers.
Featuring a World Cup winner, Baldwin Bazuaye who won the China ’85 FIFA U-16 Cup, Africa Cup of Nations Winner, Isaac Semitoje of the Tunisia ’94 fame, Friday Elahor Bronze medalist at Senegal’92, amongst other former junior and senior internationals like Monday Agbontaen, Loveday Omoruyi, Austin the Cat and several others.
The game ended 2-2 a piece with former Shooting Stars player, Baldwin Bazuaye scoring a scotcher while Coach Jibunoh presently with the Austin Eguavoen Football Academy bagged a brace for the opposing side, the first one, a free-kick from outside the box.
Speaking to news men during the merry making after the match, the Chairman of Emokpae/Duola Veterans Club, Hon Wilson Evbuomwan gave thanks to God for a successful year.
” We thank God this year’s edition was a success. We have bigger plans for next year. We inculcated the younger ones last year, you could see them today as well, we have eradicated youths misdemeanor and they have fully embraced football. We want to discover and nurture the next Elahor, Omoruyi, Bazuaye and others. Watch out for more improvements next year.
Another veteran, Friday Elahor revealed events like that held at the end of the year, was the opportunity for the ex-players to see themselves again
