– BY PETER DRURY AND ALAN SMITH
[wpvideo RciNa9w0]
After several weeks of anticipation, the much-vaunted ABH League finally kicked off today with a four-match fixture list. The league this year comprises of eight teams with each team consisting of at least six Brownites and, at most, four non-Brownites. With the excitement already at fever pitch amongst Brownite football lovers, it promises to be fourteen football days of beautiful goals, mind-numbing skills on display and breath-taking team displays.
MATCH 1: PEPPER DEM FC vs PRIMUS FC.
The first match this season was between Pepper Dem (owned by Temzy, MBBS 2K16 and comprising Godwin, Laolu, Kaycee, Hovee amongst others) and Primus FC (owned by Tunmise, Physio 2K16 and comprising Deen, Sydney, Skippo amongst others) ended in a 2- 1 score line in favour of Pepper Dem. In a pre-match interview granted to the ABH FA, Temzy promised to bring his special type of play to the field of play (TEMZYBALL) while Tunmise quipped that “I have seen them play quite impressively but getting three points from them won’t be the hardest thing to do”.
However, neither was the case as Pepper Dem ground out a victory while 3 points was too hard for Primus FC. The two goals were scored by Kaycee and Lewy, a 300- level Sociology Major while Primus pulled one back, albeit a little too late, via Andy.
M. O. T. M: Rojo (Pepper Dem FC): With his amazing stamina/ work-rate, Rojo put up a commanding display in the middle of the park.
[wpvideo kIp6vzyv data-temp-aztec-id=”c004e74b-1a1b-4437-b96e-0775c66e6cfa”]
MATCH 2: WOLVES FC vs ULTRA FC
Wolves are perennial title contenders, with them pushing Blazers to the very end for the title last season while Ultra FC had a re-ignition in the second half of the season. Many individuals thought this was going to be a walkover match for Wolves (owned by Wilfred, Physio 2k15 and comprising Paulo, Dapo, Nurudeen, Quyyum, Ronaldo amongst others), considering the fact that Wolves plundered over 9 goals in the two legs last season. However, this was not to be the case as Ultra FC (owned by NK, MBBS 2K16 and comprising Otor, Chinedu, Ibrahim amongst others) scored the fastest goal in the league this season via Otor in what was an amazing goal involving almost every team member on the pitch. Wolves then rallied, pulling a come-back with Ronaldo and Paulo scoring one apiece and assisting each other.
M.O.T.M: Ronaldo (Wolves FC): With Paulo initially being profligate in front of goal, Ronaldo was the creative heartbeat on the pitch before scoring the equalizer.
MATCH 3: AVALANCHE FC vs ALL-STARS FC
MLS decided to join forces this year, with them deciding to bring together the best players in their department (Lekan, Ahmed, Jems, Arinze, Rofiq amongst others) under the management of Ojay, a legendary past player in the ABH League. His transition from playing to management was not so smooth though, with All- Stars FC (majorly comprised of MBBS/BDS 2K17 players like Omo K, Gift, SK, Jozy amongst others and managed by Joy) proving a tough nut to crack. They eventually won with a brace from Jems while Omo K scored the solitary goal from All- Stars FC. Kudos must however be given to All-Stars who played the entire match with just one player on the bench.
[wpvideo A2eOtJOa]
M.O.T.M: Jems (Avalanche FC): The highest goal-scorer’s pace and trickery was simply too much for the “All-star” defence to handle.
MATCH 4: STAMPEDE FC vs SLYTHERIN FC
In what was probably the most one-sided match of Day 1, Stampede FC (majorly constituted of ABH’s new boys i.e. MBBS/BDS 2k18 with Davies, Ridwan, Charles and Paul Zerinna, etc) stamped the snake of Slytherin FC (majorly MBBS/BDS 2k16 with Legendige, Zeus, Stephen, Anyam, Segun etc) into the ground with the match ending 1-0. This score-line however flatters Slytherin FC a lot as we were left wondering which team had the stalites on board throughout.
M.O.T.M: A.Y (Slytherin F.C): Slytherin’s goalkeeper faced over 25 shots on target today. However, fate, fortune and skill were on his side today with him conceding only one goal throughout.
MAJOR TALKING POINTS:
1. Goal Difference (G.D) would be a major deciding factor in whoever eventually wins the league, with the four winners on Matchday 1 all tied on 3 points with a GD of +1. As the league unfolds, it promises to be a matter of who can score the most. No space for defensive teams this year! (No offence, Komodo FC)
2. It might still be too early but class teams do not seem to be the way this year, with keeping it intra-class proving to be a limiting factor in the pool of talents you can have. Teams that have gone far and wide to bring the best players from the University campus (and Yemetu) have so far stood out from the rest, with the squad depth and quality being of a different calibre. We however wait, hopefully, to be proven wrong.
HOW DO WE THINK THIS SEASON WOULD END?
1st: Wolves FC or Pepper Dem FC ?
3rd: Ultra FC or Primus FC ?
5th: Avalanche FC or Stampede FC ?
7th: Slytherin FC or All-Stars FC. ?