ABUJA – Chima Chikem scored all four goals on Tuesday as Maracana Football Club of Abuja beat Setraco FC 4-0 in one of the matches of the ongoing 2014 FCT Football League.
Chikem opened scores two minutes into the game.
He extended the lead in the 31st minute with a brilliant shot in the penalty area, and in the second half added the third and fourth goals.
Chima later told NAN that he was grateful to God and his team mates for his performance in the match.
“I thank God for the match because it was his grace and the help of my team mates that made it happen. Without them I could not have scored like I did.
“I made good use of the opportunities which came my way and God’s grace made me to turn them into goals.
“Now, my aim is to score more goals in upcoming matches and for my team to lift the cup for the first time. I pray this comes to pass for my team,’’ he said.
In his comments, coach John Tukura of Maracana FC also said he was thankful to God for the victory.
“In the first place, my thanks go to God for his mercies and this victory. Making us win all our four matches in the League is a miracle.
“In everything, there is a stage. So, we have left this stage for the next one, and we will employ different tactics and approach to win since it is now a knockout stage,’’ he said.
Coach Fadeyi Kamorudeen of Setraco FC, on his part, said his opponents played better than his team did, and he and his team had learnt a vital lesson.
“We have lost to better opponent. I and my team have learnt a vital lesson, that teamwork and hardwork pay,’’ he said.
NAN reports that the win ensured that Maracana FC qualified for the next round of the competition.
Meanwhile, in one of the matches played in the competition, Abees FC walked over Highlanders FC who failed to show up.
In another FCT Football League match played at the Area 3 Sports Complex, Shining Stars FC held Super Stars Football Club to a 1-1 draw.
The Super Stars FC were faster off the blocks in the game, and they duly opened scoring after 25 minutes of the match.
Striker Uka Chisom’s shot from outside the penalty area completely beat the Shining Stars’ goalkeeper.
The second half however began with the Shining Stars dictating the pace as well as testing the Super Stars’ resilient defence.
They were duly rewarded in the 52nd minute when Ikokwu Raphael got the equaliser from a powerful shot after a lovely cross which the Super Stars’ goalkeeper misjudged.
Haleru Souja of Shining stars FC was sent off in the 80th minutes of the game for a wild tackle, while Egbu Okechukwu of Super Stars also got the marching orders some moments later.
Edwin Ojukwu, the coach of Shining Stars FC, was happy with the result at the end of the match.
“We are grateful to God that we got the a point out of the game..
“But, indeed, that’s football for you. When you don’t take your chances, you don’t win.
“We will go back to the drawing board and correct our mistakes to ensure that we win our next game,’’ he said.
NAN reports that 48 clubs are participating in the league which began on Aug. 27.
The competition is to produce FCT’s lone representatives for the zonal play-offs for qualification into the Division 3 of the Nigeria Nation-Wide League (NNWL).(NAN)