Recently updated on October 24th, 2022 at 09:35 am
Greensprings wins Lagos State Guaranty Trust Bank’s (GTBank) Masters Cup 2016.
Greensprings emerged victorious at an exciting encounter with St. Gregory’s College, Lagos and for the first time earned the gold trophy presented by the Managing Director/CEO, GTBank, Mr. Segun Agbaje supported by the Chairman, Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF) Mr. Amaju Pinnick, First Vice President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) Chairman, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi and other dignitaries.
This was Greensprings maiden participation at the annual championship, which has recorded King’s College, St. Gregory’s College and other first generation schools as previous champions. St. Gregory’s College was the defending champions and they found Greensprings too hot to handle for the prestigious championship sponsored annually by GTBank.
A first half brace from Bassey Charles and Ali Wale’s strike were all the Lekki-based school needed to subdue the defending champions in a thoroughly one-sided affair with Shede Victor getting the consolation.
Greensprings’ recent investment in its football paid off with victory against the more established Gregs boys.
Bassey’s second minute strike gave coach Anjorin Olayemi’s boys the lead after a defensive mishap from St. Gregory’s College. Soon afterwards, Onyeze Elvis came close to doubling the lead but shot tamely at goal.
St. Gregory’s first chance came in the sixth minute when Offegbu Victor found himself in the penalty area of the opponents but his header was saved by goalkeeper Okeniyi Ibrahim.
Ali got his side’s second goal in the 12th minute with a cool finish. He dashed into the danger zone of the opponents, made a mincemeat of the defenders before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Chidiebere Obiegbu.
Onyeze Elias, the captain of Greensprings College, was awe-inspiring as he mounted pressure on opponent’s backline and almost got on the scorers’ sheet but his effort kissed the crossbar.
Bassey completed his brace in the 23rd minute when he poked in the third after goalkeeper Obiegbu spilled Muritala Toheeb’s shot to his path.
In the second half, coach Cosmas Ubani made two quick substitutions as St. Gregory’s College pushed forward to reduce the deficit but squandered numerous goalscoring chances.
However, substitute Victor pulled one back for his team with eight minutes left. All efforts to level scores proved futile as Greenspring College marched on to emerge as champions.
