Alimi shakes off stiff challenge to win VAT wonder goal award

Sunshine Stars’ Sikiru Alimi emerged winner of the match day 16 edition of VAT wonder goal award.

Alimi emerged the last man standing, shaking off a tough challenge from Chijioke Alakwe of FC IfeanyiUbah.

Harry Iwuala, media officer of NPFL, said on Thursday that Alimi got the votes from its website and twitter account with a combined total of 863 votes from a total 1,745.

“Alimi, who has scored in successive games for his relegation dogged club, led the polls both on the NPFL website and twitter account with a combined total of 863 votes from a total 1,745.

“Alakwe’s strong showing on the website polls was undone by a comparatively poor showing on the twitter polls where Alimi coasted with 50 per cent of the 513 votes.

“The vote thus leaves Alakwe and Kano Pillars’ Alassan Ibrahim with 108 votes each.

“Overall, Alakwe polled 700 votes, while Ibrahim trailed in third place with 125 votes and Stephen Alfred of Kwara United finished fourth with 57 votes,’’ Iwuala said in a statement.

He added: “The goal by Alimi was the only goal in Sunshine Stars 3-1 loss to FC IfeanyiUbah.

“The goal which saw the striker reaching a pass after outpacing his marker, and then did a cut back to set up a right footed shot from the edge of the box.

“The player will receive the prize money of N150,000 half of which will be donated to a charity to be nominated by him from the state where the club is domiciled.

“The VAT wonder goal award is an initiative of the League Management Company (LMC) and supported by the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS).

“The award is to deepen club community engagement and promote the campaign on the benefits of tax payment by citizens.

“Rivers United Emeka Ogbugh won the award for match day 15 and also emerged the first player to win the VAT wonder goal award in three seasons.

“He polled over 48 percent of the votes cast.’’