Skills galore at Azeez’s penalty kick challenge

Nigeria Beach Soccer star Abu Azeez believes he has unlocked a new level of challenge and recreation for football enthusiasts after staging the second edition of his penalty kick event in Surulere, Lagos, on Saturday.

The contest was a showmanship of techniques between 24 players, including amateur footballers, sports journalists, influencers, and content creators, as they tried to outscore one another for the N650,000 prize money in the popular’monkey post’ kick.

The event held at the Small London Mini-Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, was also graced by former Super Falcons star Desire Oparanozie, retired Nigeria goalkeeper Femi Thomas, and former Super Eagles media officer, Toyin Ibitoye.

The 24 players were lodged in four groups of six players each, with the best kickers advancing through the quarterfinals to the final.

Olamilekan Adeshina emerged the winner of the contest as the amateur footballer wowed the spectators with his precise range shooting from the group stage to the final, carting home the grand prize of N300,000.

He beat a content creator, Kazeem Lawal, who got N200,000 for second place, while another amateur footballer, Maduagu Chimezie, finished third and went home with a prize of N150,000.

“I believe winning is about luck. I don’t believe there is any secret about it. Someone actually sponsored me here to play, and I believe he would be happy to know I won. I’m a footballer too, and I wish to make a professional career in Nigeria and abroad too,” the winner, Adeshina, said.

The convener, Azeez, who has played for Nigeria Premier Football League sides like Enyimba, Enugu Rangers, and Warri Wolves, among others, also charged the players to take advantage of the professional and recreational benefits of the event.

“I’ve seen a lot of football challenges too, and I wanted to create something new; that’s why I made it a’monkey post’ penalty challenge.

“From the first edition in Egbeda, we have got feedback, and we will review this edition, which is also successful, so we can begin planning the third edition for another location.

“I always use myself as an example, and it’s been said here too; you never know who is watching, so whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well.”