Victor Chidume’s goal for Remo Stars in Makurdi against Lobi Stars on Match Day 29 has been voted the best on two online platforms of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) 10th VAT Wonder Goal award for the 2016/17 season.
Remo Stars lost the fixture 3-2 but Chidume’s gem of a goal made the shortlist alongside goals by Abdulrahman Bashir of Nasarawa United, and Wasiu Jimoh of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC).
A total of 2223 votes were cast by fans who voted on the NPFL website with Chidume picking 1471 of the votes representing over 66 percent of the votes. Jimoh came second overall and also on the website. The Shooting Stars player had 706 votes from the website but trailed Abdulrahman and winner Chidume on the twitter polls.
In the final tally, Chidume polled 1583 votes, Jimoh 783 and Abdulrahman 141 of the grand total of 2510 votes, the second highest tally since the poll began from Match Day 20. Only Wasiu Alalde of Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) FC has polled more with 1,767 of a total of 2806 votes on VAT Wonder Goal 8.
With Chidume’s win, Remo Stars becomes the first club to produce two winners of the VAT Wonder Goal following an earlier win by Salefu Ochowechi.
Remo Stars had picked the pocket of Lobi Stars in midfield and immediately the ball fell to the feet of Chidume who instinctively aimed his attempt at goal from the centre circle, leaving eggs in the face of Lobi goalkeeper Okiemute Odah when the ball nestled in the net
For the win, the Remo Stars defensive midfielder will receive N150,000, half of which will be donated to a Charity organization based within the state where the club is domiciled.
The VAT Wonder Goal is an initiative of the League Management Company (LMC) to enhance club and community engagement and is supported by the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) which seek to use the platform to promote tax education.
