Soccer enthusiasts were treated to a spectacular display of skill and excitement during the ongoing Langtang North Amateur Football Association (LAFA) Cup Competition, which featured a thrilling clash between Coach Bashar Mustapha’s Kuffen United and Coach Mark Johnson Dashe’s ODOGU. The match was more than just a game; it was a battle for supremacy, marked by strategic brilliance and technical prowess.
The contest unfolded with both teams launching relentless attacks, only to be thwarted by the vigilant defenses of Kuffen United and Bwarat United. The intense struggle for dominance shifted to the midfield, where the two midfield generals, often referred to as the “Kantes,” skillfully controlled the tempo of the game. The deadlock seemed unbreakable until the 81st minute when Coach Bashar Mustapha’s team seized a moment of brilliance to score, catching Bwarat United’s defense off guard.
The match, typical of a heated derby, witnessed the expulsion of Bwarat United’s Captain Manchang Kirmmich and Kuffen United’s Freeman Rindap, who received a direct red card for violent conduct. The Bwarat United goalkeeper also faced consequences for attacking and assaulting the referee after the final whistle. In the end, Kuffen United emerged as the champions of the NIO PRESIDENT’S CUP, while their sister club, Kuffen Pillars, secured the runner-up position with a convincing 4-0 victory over Kwallak United in the early kick-off.
Looking ahead to the upcoming semifinals, Kuffen United is set to face Hilltop Academy FC, while Kuffen Pillars will go head-to-head against Bwarat United. These clashes, scheduled for Wednesday, will determine the finalists who will vie for glory on Sunday, December 3, 2023.
Barr DS Zingman, the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, revealed that the final day of the competition will witness the third-place playoff at 1:00 pm, followed by the highly anticipated final match at 3:00 pm. Distinguished guests, including the Plateau State Football Association Chairman Hon Dr. Suleiman Yahaya Kwande, NIO PRESIDENT Amb Danjuma Nanpon Sheni, top Tarok personalities, PFA board members, and Local Government Football Association Chairmen and Secretaries, are expected to grace the occasion. This event marks the culmination of the LAFA Cup, which has been revitalized after nearly two decades under the leadership of the Amb Miri Timnan Nyantau (M.T.N)-led LAFA board, inaugurated on October 5, 2023.