Niger Flickers, Bayelsa Queens Win IEI Hockey League

The Niger Flickers of Minna at the weekend in Abuja
dethroned defending champions, the Yobe Desert Rollers of Damaturu, to win the
2012 IEI National Premier Hockey League’s male championship.

A sudden death goal in the sixth minute of the extra time from
Yohanna Faruk, gave the Minna side a 3-2 win after regulation time play had
ended 2-2.

In the match at the Astro-turf hockey pitch of the Abuja
National Stadium, the Flickers demonstrated their superiority by scoring when
it mattered.

With goalkeeper, Agada Shaibu, making good saves and the duo
of Bala Murtala and Zailani Iliya, providing good cover many times, the Desert
Rollers held off the Minna side several times in the game.

Earlier in the day at the same venue, the Union Bank of
Lagos had won the third-place match by beating the Kano State Flickers 1-0.

At the end of the competition, Collins Ifeanyi of Union
Bank, was adjudged the Most Valuable Player (MVP), while Auwalu Lamido of Niger
Flickers, won the highest goal scorer award with six goals.

In the female competition, the Bayelsa Queens of Yenagoa
retained their title with a 1-0 win over the Yobe Desert Queens of Damaturu, in
a repeat of the 2011 competition’s final match.

The Plateau Queens won the third-place game in the
competition with a 1-0 defeat against the I-G Babes of Kaduna.

Ajuma Ejegwa of Yobe Desert Queens won the female
competition’s MVP, while Mary Ogan with five goals, won the highest goal scorer
award.

The four teams in the two finals have now qualified to
represent Nigeria at continental club championships later this year.

Niger Flickers and Yobe Desert Rollers will play in the
African Male Club Championship in Accra, Ghana.

Bayelsa Queens and Yobe Desert Queens will play in the
championship’s female version in Zimbabwe.