SC Heritage of Lagos goalkeeper, Stephen Jeremiah is eager to get a breakthrough into the national spotlight of Nigerian football and better days ahead, following his emergence as best among all shot-stoppers at a recent competition in Lagos.
Sports247 reports that Jeremiah stood out with his imposing height and staunch presence in front of goal, as he led his side to three victories during last Saturday’s Coach Osahon Emokpae Memorial Football Carnival and helped them emerge winners overall.
Although the organisers declared the competition ‘no Victor no vanquished,’ due to its emotional status in honour of late Coach Osahon, whose posthumous birthday was two days earlier, Jeremiah got a special prize sponsored by Pastor Victor Macdonald of Eswatini-based God’s Glory Ministries (GGM).
Jeremiah knicked the award with two clean sheets from the three matches he featured in, two of which ended via penalty shootouts, and he comported himself well in all the encounters, much to the admiration of fans, stakeholders and other players present at the arena.
‘The New Rock’ started his heroics during the one-day competition at Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Stadium in FESTAC Town, Lagos with a clean sheet, as his side snatched a 3-0 win over De-Atlanta Football Academy of Coker-Orile.
He then followed up with more saves in the semi-final, as his team defeated highly formidable Nationwide League One (NLO) campaigners, ECAS FC of Ojo 5-3 on penalties, following a 1-1 draw at regulation time.
Jeremiah then capped the day with another clean sheet in the final, as SC Heritage settled for a goalless draw with late Coach Osahon’s club, Young Stars FC of Satellite Town, who eventually lost a marathon chain of penalties 6-5.
Jeremiah said afterwards, “I am happy that my team won the match and I got the award for best goalkeeper. Though the organisers said there is no winner, we actually won the final through penalties.
“I am now looking up to God to help me grow from here. This award will inspire me to grow in football and, at the same time, it will give me the passion to further my education. Those are my two ambitions.”
Sports247 gathered that Jeremiah, who already has a diploma in science from a private polytechnic, is receiving lots of support from the immediate past chairman of Lagos State Football Coaches Association, Raymond Akalugbo, who owns SC Heritage.
