Crystal Stars Queens set a new goals scoring in the women’s version of Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football spectacle, the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament christened Prosperity Cup, with a thirteen nil drubbing of Global Stars of Yenagoa.
Playing at the Kpansia centre, Crystal Stars made a clear statement of intent sending a message to the rest of the participating teams in the tournament as they ran riot against their opponents.
Forward, Mary Ayeloh, who won the competition last year with Niger Delta University Queens, opened the floodgate of goals, scoring the fastest goal of the tournament, as she slotted home just 13 seconds into the game.
Chizzy Praise made it two nil in the second minute. She scored her second goal with a beautiful lob in the sixth minute, as Mary increased her goal tally with a header on 15 minutes, while Olu Ifeoma scored a rocket from a 30 yards shot.
Asingba Gloria’s long range shot was the sixth goal of the game, after a beautiful tip-tap with centre forward, Chizzy Praise.
Mary increased the scoreline with her third goal on 28 minutes, to end the first half.
On resumption of the second half Mary recorded her fourth goal, followed by Chizzy Praise’s third goal of the game to make it nine nil.
Olu Ifeoma recorded her second goal of the game on 39 minutes, Mary scored her fifth later on, substitute Angela Joy increased the tally after her effort was bundled into the net by Global Queens goalkeeper, before Olu Ifeoma recorded her fourth goal, to complete the rout, making it 13-0.
Earlier in the day, last year’s third best team, Afini Ladies knocked out Jerry Queens FC of Ogbia by two goals to nil, to progress to the next round.
Afini Ladies announced their presence just two minutes into the game as last year’s Golden Boot winner, Blessing Anderson slotted home from close range after receiving a through pass from her team mate.
Godgift Alex Koru doubled the lead at the resumption after connecting from Blessing Anderson’s beautiful pass to make it two nil.
In matches decided on Thursday at the Kpansia centre, Bayelsa State College of Nursing Sciences BYSCON Queens beat Akeddei Queens 3-1 on penalties after a barren draw in regulation time. Golden Sun Sports Club in the second game of the day whitewashed Niger Delta Queens four nil to secure qualification into the phase of the tournament.
In a post-match interview, a fulfilled coach of Crystal Stars, who noted that he has shift his attention to the next round of the tournament, hailed his girls’ for their show of dexterity in the encounter, pointing out that the victory ranks them amongst the title contenders.
Despite the heavy defeat Global Queens coach Olayinka Nasiru, said he was not bothered about the scoreline but the future of the players, stating that his priority was to see the girls play for top clubs in the Nigeria Women Football League, NWFL and beyond.
Coach Nasiru appreciated the governor, Senator Douye Diri and the Central Organizing Committee, COC for introducing the women’s version of the Governor’s Football tournament, maintaining that they were featuring in the competition for the first time
