Thousands converged at the Nkambe Municipal Stadium to watch the showdown between Buca Junior FC of Nwa and Bafana Bafana FC of Ndu. The build up to this 3rd Edition of Ma Yah Judith Sunday Epse Achidi’s finals promised fireworks as the stakes were much more than the previous editions. Ndu Subdivision aside, any other Subdivision in their body language seemed to have been saying “not Ndu again.” However, nature seemed to have been very unkind to prophets of doom of the Gateway Municipality.
The first half of the match was very tense full of sterile onslaughts from both teams. Statistics gave Buca Junior FC of Nwa an urge over Ndu but both teams separated on a parity score line.
After briefings from the technical bench during halftime, Ndu began the second half of the game with more purposeful onslaughts. Agwero mesmerized the right back of Buca Junior FC, gave a dangerous cross into the 18 meter box which Armiyahu connected beautifully through a diving header into the net. It was Bafana Bafana FC of Ndu 1, Buca Junior FC of Nwa 0.This happened at the 63th minutes or so of the game. Armiyahu had come in from the bench in this half of the game to reinforce an attack line that has been very sterile this far.
Buca Junior FC of Nwa gave one of the quickest and fastest response this reporter can remember in a football match. They centered the ball and did not allow any player of Bafana Bafana FC to touch when the net was found trembling in total disbelief to most supporters of Bafana Bafana. Abdu Maliki of Buca Junior FC did not hesitate to unleash a killer shot when the lion in him was threatened by the goal from the boys from Ndu.
Before the cock could have time to swallow a grain of maize, excitement had switched camp.
Buca Junior FC of Nwa gave a very brilliant account of themselves. Supporters of Bafana Bafana FC of Ndu were to watch the rest of the match on their feet as Nwa proved at every stage in the game that they meant business coming to Nkambe.
Regular play time separated the two finalists on a parity score line, one goal either way. Since Ndu and Nwa were all travellers under such prevailing circumstances, the results of the day was to be decided from the penalty spot.
The results of the penalty shootout was 4-2 in favour of Bafana Bafana FC of Ndu.
It was quite a difficult game, both teams demonstrated their football prowess and the better side carried the day.
From every indication, both teams had good physical, psychological and tactitical preparations but Bafana Bafana FC of Ndu carried the day through prove of better psychological preparations. Football being a game of details, the boys from the Gateway Municipality got their stubborn opponents at this level.
All participating teams were handsomely rewarded. From the fourth position down to the first, the cash prizes were 200.000frs, 300.000 frs 600.000frs and 1.000.000 frs respectively.
Bonyar FC of Nkambe won a special fairplay prize of the tournament.
Apart from football related prizes, all Subdivisions went home with a sizeable consignment of books and other didactic materials for the underprivileged children. This was in connection with the Col. Sunday Nfor Foundation which was launched in Nkambe in honour of Ma Yah Judith Sunday’s father to cater for the destitute children especially in the domain of education.