Excitement builds up as Delta Football League rolls on

The excitement is on following the start of the 2016 Delta State Football League season at the Agbor Township Stadium on June 18. After about two years of no action in the state football league, a new lease on life came the way of the teeming footballers as the new board headed by a former BCC stalwart, Sunday Lucky engineered the necessary changes that culminated with the kickoff of the season between Ihu- Iyase FC of Agbor and Anioma United of Issele Uku. 

Before the match got rolling, a colourful opening ceremony graced by the Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission, Tony Okowa, 1980 AFCON winner, Henry Nwosu amongst other dignitaries captivated the imagination of the hordes of crowd packed at the revamped Agbor Township Stadium, which was witnessing this kind of high profile sports crowd for the first time in a long while. 

A smiling Okowa, who could not contain his excitement with what he was seeing took the ceremonial kickoff to flag off the start of the season, which is to last about three months, amidst scene of excitement, as the footballers took their turn on the pitch. 

Anioma United, who were the visitors signalled their intention right from the blast of the referee’s whistle, taking the game to the homers, who seemed rattled with the attacking onslaught by the marauding Anioma attackers. It didn’t take the visitors more than 20 minutes to score the opener, which jolted Ihu- Iyase Fc out off their comfort zone as they attempted to square things. 

They were only able to equalise in the second half but that only infuriated Anioma United, who probed for the second and deservedly got it with 10 minutes of regulation time left. Any hope of a comeback by the Agbor side met a brickwall as Anioma FC held on to record all three points and surge to the top of the table.

Speaking at the event, Delta State Sports Commission chairman, Anthony Okowa urged the players to maximise on the opportunities that abound in playing in the State Football League, promising that their labour would not go unrewarded. He also thumbed up the organisers for the good start, urging them not to rest on their laurels as the season continues.