Rangers striker Itoya crowned winner of VAT wonder goal award

Kelvin Itoya has won the VAT wonder goal award for matchday 19 in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

The striker’s goal was voted the best of the week, beating efforts by Kano Pillars’ Junior Lokosa and Malachy Ohawume of Rivers United.

Itoya’s goal in Rangers’ 3-0 defeat of Wikki Tourists was described by the organisers as “another practice session masterpiece”.

The poll to decide the VAT wonder goal of the week is conducted on the NPFL website, www.npfl.ng, and on Twitter @lmcnpfl.

A total of 920 votes were cast on both platforms and while Itoya emerged the runaway winner on the website poll with 319 of the 410 votes, the Twitter poll was a close contest.

Itoya got 49 percent of the Twitter votes while Lokosa, the league’s leading goalscorer, secured 42 percent.

Past winners of the VAT wonder goal award include Rivers United’s Emeka Ogbugh and Sochima Elum, Sunshine Stars’ Sikiru Alimi and Sikiru Olatunbosun of MFM FC.

Itoya will be presented with his plaque on Sunday during his team’s tie against Akwa United at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.

The prize money of N150,000 will be shared between the player and a charity he will nominate.

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