Leadership (Abuja)
Nwakpa O. Nwakpa
5 July 2008
Abuja — United FC of Gombe and Ocean Boys of Yenagoa have a few things in common as they prepare for today's Challenge Cup final in Makurdi. They are both Nigeria's Premiership sides and are on the threshold of history in the game.
Both are sponsored by state governments. While Gombe United are being sponsored by Gombe State government, Ocean Boys are bankrolled by Bayelsa State government. Neither side has ever won the country's oldest soccer competition.
For each of them, history is beckoning. None will want this moment to slip away without a dogged resistance, as they are aware that the red carpet would be rolled out for them by their respective governments if they win the trophy.
The two clubsides are from different locations in the country. While Yenagoa side, as their name depicts, are from the Oceanic belt, the Gombe team is from the semi-arid north.
Ocean Boys have had something to show during their brief stay in the top echelon of Nigerian soccer. They won the abridged league in 2006 and capped it with victory in the Super Four of that year, but failed to impress in the CAF Champions League the following year.
Gombe United, on the other hand, have been campaigning in the league for several years with no trophy to show for it. The Challenge Cup title offers the winners the opportunity of a continental campaign in next year's CAF Confederation Cup.
In fact, they are gunning for Nigeria's second ticket in the Confederation Cup, as the third placed team in the league will campaign in the continent. Apart from the bonanza that would accrue to them from their governments and admirers, the African campaign should spur them to action.
The tie on a neutral Makurdi ground is the perfect setting for the two sides, who are determined to impress this season.
Ocean Boys pipped Gombe United 1-0 when they visited Yenagoa during the league and United returned the complement by a similar scoreline when they entertained the Bayelsa side in Gombe. Their semi-final victims showed that their qualification for the final was no fluke. Ocean Boys overcame former champions, Enyimba of Aba, through penalties after recording a late equaliser.
Gombe United knocked out a tenacious Nasarawa United by a lone goal in the semi-finals for a place in today's final.
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