Madina Community has emerged winner of the 2022 Greater Accra maiden edition of the Adonko Two Fingers Inter-Community Football Tournament.
The competition, which was aimed at bringing the communities together and nurturing talents commenced on Tuesday, August 30, and ended Saturday, October 15, 2022.
In all, sixteen communities registered for the tournament hosted at the Fadama Astro Turf where Madina and Dansoman made their way through to the finals.
Other participating communities were Kaneshie, Ofankor, Darkuman, Achimota, Ashogman, Nungua, Abeka, Weija, La, Anyaa, Adenta, Kwabenya, Amasaman, and Tesano.
Before the finals, both teams had met in their group D games where it ended 2-2.
Meanwhile, in front of a fully parked Fadama Astro Turf, Madina Community ensured they clinched the inaugural trophy after a 5-4 victory over Dansoman in the penalty shootout.
This was after the entertaining but competitive final game ended 1-1 in regulations time.
Both sides threw everything into the game to fetch a goal and fired from all cylinders however none could find the back of the net before halftime due to the solidity of defensive display.
Back from recess, Dansoman took the lead a few minutes into play through a Francis Odoom spot kick to give the supporters something to cheer on.
Madina, however, rallied up with a never say die spirit to grab the equalizer in the closing end of the game with a penalty after central referee Albert had pointed to the spot following a review of a handball incident by the Video Assistant Referee.
In front of thousands of spectators at the Astro Turf, Benjamin Bakor boldly stepped forward and calmly converted the kick to send the stadium agog with the much-needed equalizer.
The game thus ended 1-1 after regulation time and was made to determine the winner from shootout.
Madina continued to convert all five of their kicks whiles Dansoman missed one of its kicks making them the eventual winners of the competition.
Humphrey Doh better known as ‘Madina Neymar’ went ahead to win the Man of the match award for his splendid performance on the night.
En route to the finals, Madina edged out Ofankor 4-2 on penalties in the quarter-finals and beat Abeka 5-4 on another penalty while Dansoman eliminated Kaneshie by 4-2 before humbling Weija in the semi-finals on a penalty shootout.
Prize
Madina community received a prize cheque of Gh¢10,000, medals, and other valuables including Adonko products as the ultimate champions of the tournament.
On the other hand, Dansoman also received Gh¢5,000 of prize money and medals as runners-up.
Team Weija and Abeka who finished as the third and fourth place went home with a cheque worth Gh¢3,000 and Gh¢1,000 respectively.
Weija placed third having recorded a 4-3 penalty shootout over Abeka following a goalless draw in regulation time.
Individual Awards
The technical study group and the organizers of the tournament headed by Head of Sports Angel FM/TV Saddick Adams presented awards to some players who distinguished themselves throughout the tournament.
Dansoman’s Rabissa Bayor Biney was adjudged as the overall Best Player of the competition whereas his teammate Francis Odoom won the top scorers award for scoring four goals.
The Golden Gloves Award (Best Goalkeeper) of the competition went to Kofi Dordor Junior of Madina.
The Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central, Patrick Yaw Boamah together with the Marketing Manager of Adonko products Mr. Vincent presented the inaugural trophy to the champions.
The competition was sponsored by Adonko Two Fingers and abled and supported by all Adonko products i.e Adonko bitters and Adonko Next Level Energy drinks among others.
The next edition of the tournament will be expected to take place in 2023.
