Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the League Management Company (LMC), Salihu Abubakar, has given reasons behind the institution of the Glo Premier League Wonder Goals Awards.
Abubakar told TheNiche that the award is another achievement of the LMC towards repositioning football in general and the country’s league in particular.
He said: “The Wonder Goals Award was instituted by the LMC to recognise eye-catching and brilliant marksmanship in the Glo Premier League.
“It is also a platform to engage fans and build club-community affinity.”
Meanwhile, winner of the second edition of the award, Rangers International midfielder, Emeka Eze, will receive his award from the LMC when the league resumes.
Three goals were under review for the award, but Eze’s belter from about 35 yards against Kano Pillars at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium, Enugu, polled the highest number of votes.
The goal got 51.6 per cent to beat Cletus Itodo’s winning goal for Abia Warriors against Enyimba in Aba. Itodo’s goal amassed 41.9 per cent while Chisom Chukatana’s goal finished a distant third with 6.5 per cent.
Interestingly, the inaugural Wonder Goals Award was clinched by another Rangers striker, Christian Ighodaro, who was presented his prize and a commemorative plague on MatchDay 25 in Akure, Ondo State, when Rangers played against Sunshine Stars.
The winner of the competition, which is weekly, gets N100,000 with half of the award going to a charity organisation of the winner’s choice within the location of his club.