Here are the five (5) things we learnt from MD 2;
1. All Our Ladies Na Ballers
After a very slow and uninspiring start to proceedings at the Nitel pitch, the third game of the day between debutants Raineri Ladies and champions Alimosho Ladies finally got fans off their feet with excitement.
Alimosho’s trio of Franca, Olasubomi, and Simi in partnership with Judith and Zulfah of Raineri Ladies wowed spectators inside and out the stadium with their football skills and artistry.
Both teams shared the spoils at the end, but the entertainment was of premium quality as summarised by Football League expert, Cerebroné;
“ENTERTAINING GAME! Drew the biggest crowd watching from outside the arena. They kept wishing fans were allowed in to watch.
When it airs on WAP TV, please, don’t miss this game.
Watch out for the two no.4s (Judith, Saidat), the two no.10s (Zulfah, Subomi) & Alimosho’s 11 (Franca)!”
2. Newbies Dominate LigaSFL Matchday 2
There is no doubt that matchday 2 belongs to the debutants 96 Champions, Atlantic Business, and Egba City.
11 goals were scored on Saturday, with these three new teams responsible for over 70% of the goals (8) after some impressive displays that saw them record the biggest wins once again.
96C were too good for Raineri following a 4-1 win, Atlantic thrashed All Black 3-0, while Egba City registered the shock of the day, a 1-0 victory over champions Saints.
On a day new teams reigned supreme and announced their arrival in Nigeria’s most competitive semi-pro league, only Blak FC are yet to find their feet in the League.
Cerebroné summarises again;
“The new teams have finally stepped up. After underwhelming showings (from all bar 96 Champions) on MD1, they came hard for MD2 and showed why everyone should be wary of them. Also, three of them are yet to concede a goal so far after 2 MDs.”
3. The Football League Has The Best Fullbacks In Africa
We are not joking here at all, the day belonged to the fullbacks and what a show they put on at the Nitel Pitch on Saturday.
For the second consecutive matchday, the fullbacks have inspired their teams with superb quality football on the pitch. But this time, it was on another level as they dominated all the individual performances witnessed on the day.
96C were too good for Raineri following a 4-1 win, Atlantic thrashed All Black 3-0, while Egba City registered the shock of the day, a 1-0 victory over champions Saints.
On a day new teams reigned supreme and announced their arrival in Nigeria’s most competitive semi-pro league, only Blak FC are yet to find their feet in the League.
From Eshilama and Moses of Citizens to Feranmi of Egba City, Alimosho Ladies’s superstar Franca, and then, player of the match day contender, Afolayan of 96 Champions, who inspired his side to an incredible win with a goal and assist, and his teammate Kenny, who grabbed an assist, his second in as many matches.
According to our expert Cerebroné, you’ll struggle to find a collection of talented full backs anywhere in Africa as we have here in the SociaLiga Football League.
“The LigaSFL might have the best collection of fullbacks anywhere in Africa! The quality is insane! The fullbacks have completely stolen the show. We are witnessing outstanding fullback performances back-to-back-to-back in the Football League.”
4. 96 Champions Are A Problem And Walk Their Talk
It is now obvious that this team and their players are not just talkers but walkers of their talk, too, from their manager Olayinka Adiro to the players led by superstars Otubu Mahmud and Tomisin Alasiri.
Ahead of matchday 2, Otubu and Tomisin were on the Who You Rep podcast and clearly stated that 96 C were just starting, calling Raineri FC “their boys”, only to go on the pitch and indeed show us that Ghosts do bleed.
After two matches, the Champions, who have been licensed to kill by their boss Adiro, remain the only side with a 100%-win rate, after two wins in two matches, with 7 goals scored and 2 conceded.
Commentator, Victor Pelemo had this to say about the deleterious newbies;
“It’s not just that they are winning games, it’s the reckless nonchalance with which they’re going about swatting away oppositions that beggars belief. Beginning of a fairy tale?”
5. Ayere’s Raineri Humiliated In The War
Ahead of their highly anticipated top of the table encounter against 96 Champions on Saturday, Raineri coach, Slyvester Ayere told the Who You Rep podcast the tie was a ‘war’ for his side given the story behind their rivalry.
Players of both teams feature against each other in the 5-a-side competition known as the Mid-week Socca. So, the MD2 fixture was indeed of higher significance for both teams.
However, in the end, it was a total disaster for Ayere and his boys as 96 Champions tore into them with supreme arrogance and recklessness.
Goals from the goal machine Onitolo, Tomisin, and “two goal of the season” contenders from Otubu and Afolayan sealed an incredible win, leaving the Ghosts as war prisoners.