The Sun News On-line

Although Lobi Stars are not in today’s Coca-Cola FA Cup epic final billed for the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi, the encounter which features Gombe United and Ocean Boys of Brass, Bayelsa State, has generated no less euphoria in the entire Benue State.

The euphoria of the nation’s oldest and most glamorous football competition engulfed the state popularly known as the ‘Food Basket of the Nation’ almost immediately the two surprise finalists emerged after last Sunday’s semi-finals in Owerri.

The euphoria, however, transcends the beautiful round leather game as it is heavily laced with the Tiv versus Idoma ethnic dichotomy, which has characterised the socio-political atmosphere in the state.

For those who did not know, both head tacticians of the two teams that will slug it out for the coveted trophy this afternoon are Benue State indigenes. While Coach Justin Tenger of Gombe United hails from the Tiv tribe, his Ocean Boys counterpart, Evans Ogenyi, is from the Idoma extraction.
The entire state has therefore virtually split into two halves along ethnic divide, an aspect that will no doubt define the atmosphere inside the mainbowl of the new-look Aper Aku Stadium later this afternoon.

Although both coaches are playing down the ethic sentiments, each of them, however, exudes confidence of carrying the day at the end of hostilities.
"Our time has come, nobody gave us a chance to go beyond the first round. I think we have done well to deserve the trophy," enthused Coach Tenger of Gombe United.

"We have laboured enough and I think it’s time for my boys to smile. We are carrying the trophy to Gombe State to make up for our continental flop," he added.
"To have defeated highly-rated Enyimba International means that Ocean Boys are not to be toyed with. We are not going to underrate them," Tenger stated.
His counterpart, Ogenyi of Ocean Boys sounded even more emphatic with confidence ahead of today’s decisive clash.

Hear him: "Having come this far, nobody can deny us the trophy. At the beginning of the race, nobody gave us a chance, but now, everybody knows we mean business.

"We are ready to prove a point. We are going to Makurdi to play and win. God has always been with us from the beginning and I believe that he will give us the trophy," Ogenyi affirmed.
While the average football fans in Benue State are likely to express their support along ethnic divides, prominent stakeholders and technocrats gave various reasons for their support to any of the sides in today’s encounter.

For Coach Godwin Uwua, both Tenger and Ogenyi are his close associates but his heart goes for Ocean Boys, even though he (Uwua) is a Tiv man as Tenger, the coach of Gombe United.
His reasons: "Coach Tenger is my senior colleague, a brother and friend, but Ogenyi is like a son to me. He worked under me when I was chief coach of Lobi Stars. So he has my support because I want him to grow.

"Besides, I saw both teams play in Owerri during the semi-finals. Although Gombe United have some experience, which is vital at this stage of the competition, Ocean Boys play expressive football and the game is all about ones ability to express himself on the pitch. So I give it to Ocean Boys," Uwua declared.

But former Benue State Sports Commissioner, Hon. Mike Kusah, also a Tiv man, was rather analytical in his preview.

"I am not sentimental, I love to analyse football. For me, I will support the better team. Let them come and play for us to see what they have to offer," he remarked.
The players who will define the outcome of today’s clash for Gombe United are striker Bala Manu and Olumide Olukoya, whose decisive lone goal gave the ‘Savannah Scorpions’ the ticket to the final at the expense of Nasarawa United.

Others are captain Alhaji Kwarruga and former Lobi Stars left full back, Japhet Joseph, both of who are expected to checkmate the rampaging Ocean Boys attack. While vastly experienced goalkeeper, John Gaadi, has vowed to deny Ocean Boys of any victory party at the end of the day.

But if Ocean Boys are able to replicate their performance against Enyimba International last Sunday in Owerri, then Gombe United might as well forget the FA Cup title. This is because the Ogenyi-tutored lads play with admirable mobility, cohesion and strength, powered by youthfulness.
So, who lifts the 2008 FA Cup, Gombe United or Ocean Boys?