Cowrie Clinchh 1st NRFF Super Cup; As Kaduna RFC Captain Blames Referee

Cowrie RFC of Lagos defeated Kaduna RFC 8 points to 5 to emerge winner of the inaugural edition of the CMB sponsored NRFF Super cup at the main bowl of the national stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

The event was organised by the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation to determine the national club champion which features the winners of the South and Northern league.

The pulsating game could not provide a winner at the end of regulation time as the disciplined Kaduna RFC defense contained all the attacks of their opponent led by Onoru Jato. 

But despite losing the game, Kaduna's Chidera Felix was voted as the most valuable player of the tournament.

Speaking after the match, Ladipo said, "I feel very elated, I have to give it to the boys because they did very well after being able to overturn that scary game in our favour."

"It was not easy, I have to give it to our technical team as well because we got a lot of turnover balls from the breakdown. I think that was where we won the game and in the line out."

"I think the NRFF has achieved something new for bringing the northern champions and the southern champions together, it used to happen in the past but thanks to them for bringing it back and I must say a very big congratulations to the guys for winning the maiden edition of the super cup."

"For sure we did miss him but we got a good replacement in Jato and we also have another winger, his name is saheed. He couldn't play because of food poisoning so he couldn't turn up today, but I think going forward, we know the challenge ahead, and we know we can't take any game for granted. We need to go back to basics, go back to training and make sure that we take every game as they come."

"Personally for me, this is my first game from November, I've been struggling with my shoulder injury, and for most of the other guys, we've not really played in a long time and that affected us. Another thing that affected us was their strategy, their strategy was to defend which actually put us under pressure, put us on the back foot by kicking for territory and immediately we got that, we were able to get our balls and counter-attack." ladipo said after the game

He lauded the effort of the NRFF for organising such tournament which was the first of its kind in a long time as they continue to reposition the sport in Nigeria

In his own reaction, Coach of Kaduna RFC, Richard Raphael praised the efforts of his team as he described them as heroes after withstanding the barrages of Cowrie.

"It's been long we had a formidable game like this, the boys played even beyond my expectation because we only trained for 3 days since we are off-season considering our season start by July."

Raphael who said he had to rally his team at the shortest notice from the NRFF believes that a brighter future awaits his team if they can continue at such enviable pace.

Also, the captain of the visiting team, Ibrahim Musa Shuaibu, said the referee aided Cowrie RFC's victory in Lagos, citing home advantage as the reason they lost the tournament.

"I don't feel bad because I believe we gave them a game they deserve, but we know we can't rule out the home advantage syndrome from anything, we thank God despite losing, it felt like we were the eventual winners."

"The referee tried is best but if you watched the game closely, you will know that the referee favoured the home team more."

"We don't plan to stretch the game into extra time, we know we were supposed to beat them in the first half, but that's why I told you they are at home, but the game had to stretch into extra time, but in all, it was a good game for us all."

"I know we did everyting almost well but nobody is perfect, but, we have tried and continue trying, keep training, keep the team togeether, and then we can win the next edition." 

President of the federations, Sir Edward Fom Pam commended the generosity of Richard Raphael who is a board member of the federation, for supporting the organiser with the supply of trophies presented.