Cynosure shock Ebonyi Utd, win 2019 FA Cup in Abakaliki

The Cynosure Football Club (FC) of Abakaliki have defeated Ebonyi United FC of Abakaliki 1-0 to win the 2019 state Federation cup.

Cynosure with the victory, Cynosure which was hitherto based in Port Harcourt, Rivers broke Ngwa United of Aba, Abia’s hold of the trophy for the past two years.

Cynosure incidentally dethroned Ngwa United in the semi-final before emerging champions before defeating former Champions, Ebonyi United, owned by the Senate Committee Chairman on Sports, Sen. Obinna Ogba (PDP-Ebonyi Central) in the final.

Cynosure clinched the trophy through an 87thminute goal scored by Ikenna Chisom as they dominated the encountered watched by a sparse crowd at the Pa Ngele Oruta stadium, Abakaliki.

Chidebere Nweze, Proprietor of Cynosure FC attributed the victory to hard work, noting that the players would not relent until the team achieves its targeted objective.

“This has shown that hard work pays and the players will be inspired by this victory to perform creditably in the national stage of the competition,” he said.

He noted that the team would embark on a close camping exercise in its Port Harcourt to concentrate and prepare adequately for the competition.

“It would play bigger teams in the competition to toughen and test its abilities on meeting such clubs at the national stage.

“We defeated big clubs such as Heartland FC of Owerri, Rivers United of Port Harcourt among others, to win the South East, South South pre-season challenge and we hope to re-enact such feats at the national stage of the competition.

“We are modest on our ambitions in the competition but will definitely fancy winning the competition which is the ultimate target of all participating teams,” he said.

Ikechukwu Itumo, Team Manager of Ebonyi United FC, blamed the loss of a variety of factors which include loss of concentration by the players, mistakes by its management, among others.

“Conceding a goal in the 87th minute of a cup final shows that the players could have concentrated better but we have discovered our mistakes and will correct them before the national stage of the competition.

“The management erred by releasing the players feeding allowances late before the match and it is better all these flaws are being detected presently.

“We will correct all noticeable flaws before the national stage of the competition and assure our fans of a credible outing at the competition,” he said.

Mr Desmond Ome, the state Football Association (FA) Secretary commended both teams for a high-level display of football artistry and enjoined them to prepare adequately for the competition’s national stage.

“The FA will support them in every possible way to represent the state creditably as we are still basking in the euphoria that an Ebonyi-based team has won the trophy after two years,” he said.

Leave a Reply