Golden Hawks – Episode 4: Assembling the Team

Golden Hawks – Episode 4: Assembling the Team

With Ayomide, David, Samuel, and Micheal already on board, Perfect Iloh continued his search for the remaining pieces of the Golden Hawks. He spent days traveling through Lagos and neighboring towns, scouting street games, school tournaments, and training grounds.

Slowly but surely, the team took shape.

Final Players Recruited:

Ayomide (Goalkeeper – Benin City): Quick reflexes, fearless in goal.

Samuel (Center-back – Lagos): Strong, disciplined, and a leader in defense.

Michael (Striker – Lagos): Tall, strong, and improving his finishing.

David (Left Wing/Playmaker – Lagos): Technical, great passer, deadly long shots.

Uche (Right Wing – Anambra): Speedster, great dribbler.

Sadiq (Central Midfielder – Kaduna): Intelligent passer, strong in tackles.

Kelvin (Right-back – Ogun State): Solid defender, good at overlapping runs.

Chinedu (Left-back – Enugu): Quick, aggressive, and smart in defense.

Femi (Defensive Midfielder – Ibadan): Physically strong, controls midfield.

Ayo (Striker – Abuja): Clinical finisher, great movement in the box.

Emmanuel (Midfielder – Port Harcourt): Box-to-box engine, never stops running.

After weeks of training and bonding, the team was complete.

Registering for the Nigeria National League (NNL)

The Golden Hawks officially registered for the Nigeria National League (NNL), the second division of Nigerian professional football. If they performed well, they would have a chance to qualify for the NPFL (Nigeria Professional Football League), where the country’s best clubs played.

It was time to prove themselves.

First Match – Golden Hawks vs. Flying Eagles FC

Their first challenge was against Flying Eagles FC, a well-established team known for their aggressive playstyle and attacking football. The match was set in a packed stadium, the air thick with excitement.

Match Details

Kickoff: The referee blew the whistle, and the match began with intensity. Flying Eagles controlled possession early, testing Ayomide with long-range shots.

10th Minute: The Hawks struggled to find their rhythm, with Flying Eagles pressing high.

15th Minute (Goal – Flying Eagles 1-0): A cross into the box found the Eagles’ striker, who leaped high and headed the ball past Ayomide. The Hawks were down 1-0.

30th Minute: The Golden Hawks finally settled, with Sadiq controlling the midfield and David finding spaces.

38th Minute (Goal – Golden Hawks 1-1): David received a pass from Sadiq, cut inside from the left, and unleashed a stunning long shot from 25 yards. The ball curled beautifully into the top corner. Goal of the match!

Halftime: 1-1. Perfect gave an inspiring halftime talk, pushing the boys to believe in themselves.

Second Half

50th Minute: Both teams fought hard, but the Hawks’ defense stood strong. Samuel and Kelvin made crucial tackles, keeping the score level.

67th Minute (Goal – Golden Hawks 2-1): Uche sprinted down the right wing, sent a low cross into the box, and Ayo tapped it in! The Hawks took the lead!

78th Minute: The Flying Eagles threw everything forward, but Ayomide made two incredible saves to keep them out.

90th Minute (Goal – Golden Hawks 3-1): A counterattack sealed the game. Sadiq won the ball, sent a long pass to Michael, who rounded the keeper and scored his first goal.

Final Whistle: Golden Hawks 3-1 Flying Eagles FC.

Victory & The Road Ahead

The players celebrated their first win, hugging and chanting in the locker room. Perfect watched with pride—this was just the beginning.

The Golden Hawks had announced their arrival. The journey to the top had officially begun.

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