- By Demola Atobaba, Ado-Ekiti
Football team of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ekiti State Council, on Tuesday trashed members of the Freelance and Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigerian (FIBAN), Ekiti State chapter in a novelty football encounter.
The game which was played at the popular Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Okesa area of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital was at the instance of the FIBAN leadership as part of activities to mark their annual celebration.
NUJ in a dramatic encounter with FIBAN in the evening of Tuesday thrashed their counterpart from another association 1-0 in a keenly contested tie at the match of the NUJ with FIBAN players at the event.
The clash which lived up to expectation as both sides made their intentions known in the early exchanges but, it was the NUJ side who went ahead.
The drama started when one of the NUJ player converted from the spot in some few minute of the commencement of the second half of the match, when a goal bound ball was nodded straight to the net of FIBAN and the centre referee wasted no time to blow his whistle, confirming it for a goal.
FIBAN team came alive after conceeding the goal, but efforts to get an equalizer proved abortive has the NUJ side held their nerves to go into the interval with a better defensive advantage.
Both sides began to size each other up with several attempts on goal, but it was the NUJ side who took better chances of the game.
The contest took another dimension as both sides intensified their search for goal with several missed chances with goalkeeper, Kayode Babatuyi making series of glorious saves to deny FIBAN racing into the equalizer.
Addressing the gathering shortly after the game, the Chairman of FIBAN, Mr. Oluwafemi Afolabi also known as Asorogbayi thanked NUJ for honouring the invitation saying the match had further strengthen the tide between the two associations.
Expressing delight in the performance of journalists at the event, the Chairman of the NUJ in Ekiti State, Lion Rotimi Ojomoyela thanked all the participants for doing the Union proud at all levels despite their busy schedule.
Ojomoyela who was ably represented by the secretary of the council, comrade Kayode Babatuyi expressed satisfaction in the Union members and appreciated God for the injury-free encounter, therefore called for more synergy between NUJ and FIBAN so as to jointly facilitate better benefits for members of various unions.
He urged sports lovers across the length and bregth of the state including well-meaning people and philanthropists, home and diaspora to invest in sporting activities and thereby complement government’s effort at repositioning the sector in the state.
