Union bank cash on Stores slip

The Pro-league division one Lagos-derby between Stationary Stores and Union Bank at the Onikan water-fronts ended in a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

Once again poor officiating came under fire in the highly contentious encounter but there was no rubbishing the new look ‘Onikan stadium’.

To the surprise of everyone, the abandoned stadium wore a new look as the lush grass enabled the free flow of the ball.

After a string of misses, Stores went ahead in the 40th minute through Patrick Ikade, to the delight of their huge fans.

The second half resumed with questionable decisions from the referee was often jeered by the crowd, hoping to act reasonably enough to avert another FA banishment which has often characterised Stores campaign in the Nigerian league.

Union Bank got their equaliser in the 56th minute through Benard Okorowanta and opted for a defensive play to curtail a rampaging stores attack all through the second half.

“My boys surprised me and I think they were not well motivated for this game. We will have to go back and plan for the next game because today is gone” Stores coach Rasmos Onu told Nigeriasports.com after the encounter.

Union Bank Team manager, B A Popoola lambasted the officiating and hope on better days for his team.

“The officiating was poor and it’s too bad for the league. Although we are still happy to get away with a point and we hope to handle all our opponents with respect” he noted

Earlier on...

Stationary Stores in fresh trouble waters

The return of Lagos darling side ‘Stationary Stores’ to the professional rank of Nigerian football league has started on a wrong footing.

Although the side defeated Bayelsa United 2-0 on last Sunday in their opening game of the season with goals from the boots of 16-year old, Olusegun Oni in the 24th minute and a second half penalty by Nakwe Chidi-but the great start has been shortened with a recent ruling by the FA saying the game and result was not valid.

The league department of the NFA announced that Stores were yet to complete their registration for the Pro league division one-2004 season thus contradicting a ruling under the Nigerian professional league-the rule states that any team yet to complete registration formality is not valid to compete in the league.

Bayelsa United had protested few minutes after the game claiming that Stores were yet to complete full registration of the players.

“We have concluded registrations of players and their protest is only a ridiculous cry” explained Stores chairman, Princess Adebajo.

This is a major blow for a club that has been in oblivion in the last 12-years and its return to the professional rank after years in the amateur rank has been hailed by pundits.

*Additional reports by Adewole Opatola(Lagos)