The sun was magnificently blazingly over the unroofed New Jos International Stadium, a stadium globally known for record attendance as Plateau United Male and Female teams took on their bitter derby rivals, Mighty Jets International in the State’s final of the Federation Cup.
The atmosphere was electric, with fans cheering and chanting for their favourite teams motivated by Governor Mutfwang who was in attendance, watching on with keen interest as the two teams battled it out on the synthetic pitch.
Plateau United’s Queens took to the field first, and they showed why they were the team to beat. With lightning-fast speed and impeccable teamwork, they outplayed Mighty Jets International Mata at every turn and twist.
The Mighty Jets International female team put up a valiant effort, but it was clear from the start that they were no match for the sheer talent and determination of Plateau United’s Queen who again, for the umpteenth time took their fellow ladies to the cleaners with a 4:1 scoreline, thanks to the heroics of the small but mighty, Mighty Jets Mata goalkeeper who kept out several one on one chances.
Mighty Jets International Male team seek to redeem the battered image of the club especially with Governor Mutfwang who has done virtually everything possible for the club to excel, watching.
With skilful passing and precise shooting, they threatened quickly in the early minutes of the exchanges. The Male Mighty Jets International team tried their best to keep up, but they were no match for the powerhouse that was Plateau United as well when they couldn’t threatened a United second eleven, where Coach Mbwas Mangut rested his starting eleven to face Abia Warriors in a midweek encounter on Wednesday.
In the end, Plateau United emerged victorious, much to the delight of their fans and the governor himself after regulation time ended 1 all with the two teams scoring from the penalty spot.
To determine the winner, kicks from the penalty mark was used and it separated the men from the boys. Rotduwe Gobum did saved United’s spot kick but his team teams were awful in their conversion, blasting away their kicks
As the final whistle blew, Plateau United emerged as the undisputed champions of the State’s Federation Cup.
The governor congratulated the winning teams and presented them with their trophies assisted by Hon Bashir Lawandi Datti, Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development and Hon Dr Suleiman Yahaya Kwande, the man with the magic wand who is turning around for good the narratives of football on the Plateau.
It was an incongruous blend of pains and pleasure for Coach Najip Mabo’s Mighty Jets and Coach Mbwas Mangut’s Plateau United who regretted their chances with tears while it was a proud moment for Plateau United and their fans, who celebrated their victories with cheers and applause respectively.
In the end, it was a day of triumph for Plateau United as they dominated both the female and male teams of Mighty Jets International. Governor Mutfwang watched on with pride as the state’s teams showcased their talent and determination on the field. It was a day to remember, filled with excitement, passion, and of course, a healthy dose of humour as the underdog teams tried their best to take on the mighty Plateau United
