March 05, (THEWILL) – Rural life and village leisure weresports level on Saturday evening when Highlanders Football Club of Nkan Kwaswik took on the Water Buffalos of Barkin Kogi, both of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, in what was tagged a “peace and thanksgiving” football encounter.
With the commencement of the match at 4pm local time, both sides showed vigour and determination, with intense midfield struggles, aerial encounters, and long passes that were mostly frittered away by attacking combinations that did not show understanding and purpose with their finishing.
The home side, Highlanders, exhibited an edge over the blue jersey visitors by exploring and initiating goal-threatening offensive plays from the flanks to keep the visitor’s defence in a frenzy, with the goalkeeper, Pam Dung, remaining on red alert.
Returning to play after halftime with the first forty-five minutes ending 0-0, the Highlanders showed improved aggression up front with good ball control in the midfield. With constant support from the wings and the incisive Dung Samuel, capitalized on the poor arrangement of the defence, dribbled twice after collecting an in-swinger from the right flank to thunder a left-footed leveller that left the visitors’ goalkeeper sprawling on the ground, to make it 1-0 at 57 minutes of play.
Frustrated by a coherent and repellant defence of the menacing home side, the Buffalos remained choked in the murky waters of their collapsed midfield and poor finishing, until the enterprising and predatory captain of the homers scored from the spot and coasted home to a brace with a roof burster in the 80th minute to drown the Buffalos 3-0 and send the gallery into a frenzy of celebration.
Plateau State Commissioner for information, Dan Manjang, who was also the match Commissioner, commended the initiative and expressed the hope that more of such talent discovery events will be organised by different people throughout the State to discover more skilful young Nigerians for harnessing national development.
Manjang, who said he was impressed by the talents, skills, and display of artistry, said with proper leadership and guidance, the young players he saw are heading for stardom.
Organiser of the event and State Commissioner for Special Duties and NGOs, Gyang Dung Musa, explained that the event was also to mark his birthday as much as it was also to celebrate the restoration of peace in the State. With the appropriate political atmosphere, he said the event will metamorphose into an annual tournament with expanded participation.
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