TEAP FC on Monday in Abuja thrashed Police Machine 4-1 in the opening game of the FCT Pre-season tournament.
The tournament is expected to end on Dec. 1.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 12 teams are taking part in this year’s edition of the tournament.
The match played at the Area 3 Sports Complex, Garki saw Emeka Uzor open scoring for TEAP FC as early as in the 2nd minute of the game.
However, Mohammed Wukari got the equaliser for Police Machine through a spot kick in the 34th minute to level scores at the end of the first half.
At the beginning of the second half, TEAP stepped up their game and took the lead through Onyebuchi Chukwu in the 46th minute.
Chigozie Metu and Abubakar Mohammed of TEAP FC added the third and fourth goal in the 64th and 76th minute respectively.
Coach Donald Paris of TEAP FC told newsmen after the game that he was happy and has confidence in the ability of his team ahead of the new season.
“This is our first competitive match before the season proper begins.
“I must commend my boys for putting up a very good performance, despite the short time we had to prepare for this tournament,’’ he said.
He said the team was in the right frame of mind ahead of the upcoming season, adding that “performances like this give him hope of better things to come.
“We laid-off about 12 players and lost four others to other clubs last season. We need new players in the squad to enable us stand a chance of doing well this season.
“I think I have a squad that can compete favourably in the National League. As for promotion, well, let’s see how it goes.
“We are a young team and my desire is to make sure we do not find ourselves struggling for survival like we did last season,’’ he said.
Coach Mukaila Ali of Police Machine said that though his boys performed below expectation, they learnt a lot from the encounter.
“That is the essence of this tournament. It is to give the coaches the opportunity of assessing their teams and making adjustments where necessary.
“I have been able to discover some loop holes in the squad, especially in the defence and attacking departments. I will make the required adjustments in those areas,’’ he said.
The coach said his target was to help the team gain promotion to the Nigeria National League (NNL).
“We are currently in Division 1 of the Nigeria Nationwide League (NNWL) and hope to gain promotion to the National League.
“We have recently discovered eight talented players from the just-concluded Police Games in Port Harcourt.
“Out of the eight players, I am confident that six will make my team come next season,’’ Ali said.
