Promise Nwachukwu Turns 'Peace Maker' Awosanmi Grabs 2023/2024 NPFL 'Fastest Goal' In Awka Stadium Thriller

BY SAB OSUJI

Promise Nwachukwu, Heartland of Owerri Gwneral Manager, added the role of a 'peace maker' to his duties Sunday afternoon after his struggling side  played out a disappointing one-all draw against Sunshine Stars in a gritty NPFL Match Day 23 fixture at their adopted Awka City Stadium ground, Exclusivenews.com.ng reports.

Heartland faithful were unable to come to terms with referee Muntaka Abubakar's conduct of the game. They alleged they were denied penalty appeals 'three times' which could have changed the final outcome of the game in their race against the dreaded drop.

After the final whistle, sensing there could be a possible reprisal, Nwachukwu led a team of police officials to 'encircle' the referee and his assistants to the dressing room.

He remained there with them till most of the spectators were gone and he even joined them in the Sienna official car to their hotel.

"The Match has been played and you can't change the outcome. It's sad we didn't get the result we expected and worked hard for.

"But we leave Match officials to their conscience. Its our responsibility to ensure the safety of the match officials, before, during and after games", Nwachukwu, a former Nigeria junior International said to Exclusivenews.com.ng afterwards.

Sunshine Stars raced into an early lead, Promise Awosanmi finding the back of the net 54 seconds after kick off, in what appears as the 2023/2024 NPFL fastest goal so far.

The Owena Whales took the kick off, and after nine passes, Awosanmi found space inside the Naze Millionaires box to plant his effort into the bottom corner.

The stadium was rude shocked. Were we going to witness another huge 'embarrassment' as was the case 72 hours ago when Plateau United visited?

The Christian Obi charges rejected that, responded brightly by matching the throttle pedal strongly, ceaselessly. And four minutes later, they restored parity, with Onyekachi Okafor firing beyond goalkeeper Taiwo Abdulrafiu in the fith minute.

From then on, Heartland, who faced their former coach, Kennedy Boboye, threw everything into the game. But it was either they lacked the cutting edge in the final third, or they were kept out time and again by the extraordinary goalkeeping brilliance of Abdulrafiu whose mental alertness, astonishing reflexes and concentration ensured that his side went home with a fair share of the spoils.