INDEPENDENCE Day revelers are in for a big treat today at the UNILAG Sports Complex where four of the best sporting banks clash in what has been dubbed 'the Bankers Independence Day Clash.'The two-way battle involves UBA, the defending Champions, Fidelity Bank, Skye Bank and Standard Chartered battle for the competition's final tickets.For the fans, it promises a great Independence Day bonanza as the lucky ones will go home with freebies, including Air Nigeria return ticket to Ghana, and numerous other gifts lined up for grabs by MediaVision, the organizers of the Nigeria Bankers Game.MediaVision, again, says it is determined to make the 2011 edition memorable for participants and fans on a day the Diamond Bank and Union Bank will kick-start the classification series at 10.30 am for the 5th and 6th place match, while First Bank meets WEMA forthe 7th and 8th place play-off.In the first Semi-final game, Group A winners, Fidelity Bank, is up against the tournament's highest scoring side, Standard Chartered.Fidelity Bank has shown remarkable improvement from the side that was humbled 4-0 last year by Skye Bank and is aiming for its best ever outing in the tournament. The challenge by Standard Chartered will perhaps be the litmus trial of its ability to claim the title this term. Standard Chartered sounded a warning of its quest for the title with the 5-1 defeat of Union Bank in the last Group games last week and would attempt to build on its confidence to rout Fidelity Bank for a finals ticket.Players to watch are Ikenna Ene of Fidelity and Standard Chartered will be counting on Funlola Oni and Jide Shiwoku.The second semi-final tie will be a rematch of last year's finals as UBA contends with Skye Bank in what can easily be rated the star match of the day. The two sides appear evenly matched, except for the top finishing of UBA at the group stages.Skye Bank capitulated in the penalty shoot-out after regulation period saw both sides evenly squared at 0-0 and the exploits of the UBA goalkeeper will loom large in its psyche when the game kicks off this time.Players to watch for UBA include Uche Chinwendu, Kamal Lawal and the captain, Ben Ekwerem. But the ever reliable Hall of Fame member, Seun Osiyemi and the games' all time highest goal scorer, Kayode Abdul Rasheed will lead the Skye Bank assault for a place in the finals towards avenging its last year's narrow lossThe finals of the 2011 Nigeria Bankers Game will come up on October 9 at the University of Lagos Sports Complex with celebrity attendants from the nation's football community.
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