Fatai Osho reveals ASVO FC plans ahead of Shooting Stars' clash at Optima Energy Gold Cup

 

Technical Adviser of Association Sportive de la Vallée de l'Ouémé (ASVO) FC, Fatai Osho has assured that his side will give its best shots against Shooting Stars of Ibadan. 

Osho revealed his pre-match routine ahead of Thursday's Optima Energy Gold Cup semi-final against the Oluyole Warriors at the Remo Stars International Stadium, Ikenne by 3pm. 

"I'm impressed with the transition in my team, coming from an opening day defeat to a draw and a win in the final group game," he told Optima Energy Gold Cup preseason tournament Media Channel. 

"But, we can't be ignorant of the fact that we still have a whole lot of work to do, to make the team better.  Having a contest with Shooting Stars in the semi-final will help us as a team, as the Oluyole Warriors will expose our weaknesses and strengths, and on our part, we'll be ambitious. 

"Once a team is in the semi-final of any tournament and has the chance to win it, then such a team must give its best shot. That ASVO FC will do, as we want to have another test with defending champions Beyond Limits in the final if both teams qualify. 

"We are looking forward to the Optima Energy Gold Cup final, as there's always a first time. In the last week of intense training and looking at the work rate of players in the matches we have played coming this far, I am highly encouraged. So playing in the final on Saturday will be an icing on the cake for us. 

"My assistants and I will prepare the team mentally for Shooting Stars and with a mindset that anything is quite possible."

On his team's progress in the preseason tournament, "It has been one with mixed emotions but a good one for the team, as finishing the final game against Kasam FA with a win and with 10-man, said a lot about the team. 

"In our first game against Beyond Limits, we started badly, the conditioning was not there, and we then had to work extra hard on the players, so that they could be able to compete, that's was has manifested in the team as they can now play better with the ball as a unit and execute my tactical instructions on the pitch. 

"The fitness level of my players is gradually coming up, as this is the only time we can overload them in training and still ask them to play. 

On his no-show in the dugout, " It is deliberate. It's a preseason tournament, and I want my assistants to do much of the job on the touchline while I watch calmly and jot on my notes the key things I see about my players during matches."

Osho, a former coach of Akwa United, has assured ASVO FC fans that they will see his 'Sugar Ball' when the Beninoise season kicks off. 

"No doubt about it, we are going to be good in that area, my free-flowing football. Practically, we have just two weeks to work as a unit, and to have a team, where you can have players that can pass the ball to each other with their eyes closed, would need time."

Beyond Limits, Shooting Stars, ASVO FC, FC Ebedei secure Optima Energy Gold Cup semi final berths

 

FC Ebedei broke a 12-year jinx in the Optima Energy Gold Cup, as they joined defending champions Beyond Limits, Shooting Stars and Association Sportive de la Vallée de l'Ouémé (ASVO) FC of Benin in the semi-final of the preseason tournament 12th edition.

Beyond Limits sealed their spot after they trounced Ijebu United 4-2 in a thriller to stay top of Group A with 9 points.

After recording a loss on Matchday 1 and a draw on Matchday 2 against Ijebu United, ASVO FC gave themselves a huge boost as the Beninoise team defeated KASAM FA 2-1 to go second in the group with 4 points, while the duo of KASAM FA and Ijebu United waved goodbye to the championship, as they finished third and fourth on the log with 3 points and a point each. 

It was an interesting contest in Group B as the two semi-finalists had to decided on the final Matchday, as Shooting Stars 4points, FC Ebedei 4points, Osun United 1point and newly promoted Ikorodu City 1point, were all in contention for the available two slots. 

At the end of Group B Matchday, 3 fixtures, which were played simultaneously at the Remo Stars Stadium and FC Ebedei Stadium on Tuesday, produced some fireworks. 

It was a five-goal thriller at the Remo Stars Stadium as Ikorodu City missed the chance of making it to the semi-final despite beating Osun United 3-2.

At the FC Ebedei Stadium, the Oliseh Boys were top of their game as they came back from a goal down to share the spoils with Shooting Star, to book their first ever semi-final spot in Optima Energy Gold Cup preseason tournament after 12 attempts. 

Shooting Stars and FC Ebedei became the third and fourth team to book a place in the knockout stage after they garnered 5points each.

Optima Energy Gold Cup: Defending champions Beyond Limits put three past ASVO FC

 

Defending champions Beyond Limits kicked off their Optima Energy Gold Cup campaign on a strong footing, as a brace from Kparobo Arierhi and one from Chukwudi Isaac nailed ASVO FC of Benin 3-0.

After some beautiful exchange of passes and quality attacking football from both teams, all seemed to be ending in a first-half draw, then Beyond Limits picked from where they left off in the 2023 final against Ijebu United. 

Kparobo Arierhi displayed his brilliance with his shooting skills as he put Beyond Limits in front with a superb solo strike that beat ASVO FC's shot-stopper to the bottom right corner of the goal for 1-0.

Six minutes later, Beyond Limits got a two-goal cushion and went into the break via a strike from Chukwudi Isaac, who made the better of a sublime assist from Kparobo Arierhi

As ASVO FC pressed hard for their debut goal in the Optima Energy Gold Cup at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, the Benin club got punished again in the 67th minute. 

Kparobo Arierhi put the icing on the cake for Beyond Limits, scoring his brace with a smooth finish from an assist from Taiwo Cole.

After Group A Matchday 1, Ikenne-based Beyond Limits stays top of the log with 3 points and a plus three goal difference, followed by KASAM with 3 points and a plus one goal difference. 

The duo of Ijebu United and ASVO FC are placed at the bottom of the log with no point each.