“We are happy to win the tournament. It means a lot to the team.” Lassie Atrash
LIVERPOOL, April 23 – Kenya ruled the world as the sparkling Capital FM football team produced a dazzling display to upset defending champions South Korea 3-2 in a pulsating final to lift the coveted 2016 Standard Chartered Trophy in Anfield Stadium on Saturday.
The win saw Capital FM become the first African team to win the trophy after Postal Corporation of Kenya came close last year where they lost 3-2 to South Korea in the finals.
Capital, the Road To Anfield champions finished the tournament unbeaten to produce the Most Valuable Player Jeffrey Ooko and Golden Boot winner Solomon Okeyo who sunk in 10 goals in matches.
The Best Mix of Music team entered the global tournament as underdogs after being drawn in the Group of Death alongside Ghana, Singapore and USA.
Kenya who featured stars Okeyo, Ooko, skipper Lassie Atrash, Alex Isaboke, Kristian Malumbe, Shaffie Soud and Ali Athman started their campaign on a low, holding Ghana to a goalless draw then thrashed United States of America 3-1 before demolishing Singapore 4-0 with Okeyo scoring all the goals to send his team to the quarter-final.
In the last eight, Capital edged out India 3-1 with Ooko coming to the Kenyan side’s rescue when he cancelled out India’s leveller before Okeyo netted his sixth goal of the tournament to kill the game.
The semi-final was not an easy ride either as Capital were made to sweat before finding the tempo to whip Hong Kong 3-0 in a match where Ooko sent his side ahead before Okeyo notched a brace yet again.
In the decider, Capital who were coached by Liverpool Academy coach Jay opened the scoring with Okeyo but the speedy Koreans responded immediately from a wonderful build-up but Okeyo was at it again to double the lead when he danced past the defender then left the keeper for dead.
Okeyo turned the provider this time setting up Ooko who sealed the win with a clever shot far post.
“We are happy to win the tournament. It means a lot to the team. I thank the management for this far they have brought us here. We promised the country, Capital FM and Standard Chartered that we will win the tournament and here it is,” Atrash underscored.
Before the match, the team watched the Liverpool vs relegation threatened New Castle United where the Reds were held to a 2-2 draw at home.
Capital Group Limited team who were representing in the 2016 Standard Chartered Final pose for a photo after beating Korea. PHOTO/CFM
The team was managed by Duncan Kikata and David Muba.
