Lagos win gymnastics, crash in football

DAWN Games: Lagos win gymnastics, crash in football

May 22, 2014

Team Lagos were tops in the gymnastics events at the ongoing DAWN Games after carting home 17 medals to at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Complex, Rowe Park, Yaba.

The team, led by captain Ortega Akintola, won eight gold, six silver and three bronze medals. Team Ekiti were second with two gold, three silver and two bronze medals.

Ogun finished third with one gold, five bronze medals, while Team Oyo could only win three silver and two bronze medals to claim the fourth position.

The football team of the host state were, however, unfortunate on Wednesday when they lost their semi-final match 2-1 to Oyo State at the Agege Stadium.

Tajudeen Sodiq scored twice to put the visitors ahead in the first half before Michael Andrew reduced the tally for Lagos in the second half.

Ogun defeated Osun 1-0 In the other semi-final match at the same venue.

Team Lagos coach Leo Lawson blamed defensive errors for his team’s defeat, but promised to clinch the third-place medal.

“Our target now is on the third-place match against Team Osun. We beat them at the group stage and I expect my boys to do the same again when we meet for the bronze medal tie. I hope to present a new set of players that had not played since we began this competition,” Lawson said.

The Chairman, Lagos State Football Association Technical Committee, Dotun Coker, said the chairman of the Ikeja Football Coaches Council, Rafiu Taiwo, would identify the best 18 football players for the region in the DAWN Games. The technical report will later be presented to the DAWN Commission.