GEORGE HAS GOT IT MAID
WHEN THE final whistle blew at 2.27pm last Saturday, the Maidstone United players scattered round the Portman Road pitch as 4,472 jubilant away fans erupted.
Some jumped around, some stood there in disbelief. Others burst into tears.
The National League South side had just stunned Championship high-flyers Ipswich Town to reach the FA Cup fifth round for the first time.
Boss George Elokobi had been talking about his ‘history makers’ for weeks.
“I need to find a new word to describe what they’ve done,” the Stones boss said.
There’s no hiding there was a tinge of disappointment in the Stones’ Spitfire Lounge on Sunday afternoon when, down to the last four balls of the draw with Manchester City’s still in the hat, they were drawn away to the winners of Sheffield Wednesday or Coventry City. But the game will be played on Monday, February 26 and bank a cool £125,00 live
TV fee.
The club’s X account joked they’d already completed the Championship but, whoever they face, you can bet it will be full of belief once again.
“Every football match is winnable,” Elokobi said. “It doesn’t matter who you draw, you have to show them respect. When that time comes we are going to be ready and we’ll give our best as a football club.”
They have every right to believe. Yes, they rode their luck at times as Ipswich peppered Lucas Covolan’s goal, particularly early on, but they grew into the game.
Lamar Reynolds’ opener was gorgeous, the kind of goal that will be shown again and again, while Sam Corne’s winner – after Jeremy Sarmiento had levelled – oozed composure.
As did Covolan’s performance. The stopper admitted last season at Chesterfield hadn’t gone as well as he’d hoped.
But there’s something about the likeable Brazilian and big games – who can forget he scored a dramatic equaliser for Torquay United in the 2021 National League Promotion Final?
He also saved two penalties in that shoot-out but, even then, Hartlepool United triumphed. His FA Cup performance did get its rewards.
“At Portman Road, there’s no way you’re going to come here and not create the chances they did – and we rode our luck a lot, let’s be honest,” Elokobi said. “Maybe it was it in the hands of the Gods for it to happen that way.
Heart and soul
“I did stress, for us to get anything out of Portman Road, we have to ride our luck, stay resilient, we’re going to cramp up because they’re an excellent side and you have to run through those cramps.
“Lucas Covolan has been excellent. In big games, big moments, we saw it against Stevenage where he pulled out some big saves. He’s been like a wall for us. I am absolutely delighted for him.”
Covolan’s contract was up at the end of last month. Re-signing him was a simple bit of business for Elokobi, who has reshaped the club follow relegation from NonLeague’s top flight last season.
For him personally, it’s the latest chapter in a story of triumph that took him from Cameroon to the Premier League – scoring against Manchester United for Wolves – as a player before stepping into management last season.
“Those moments as a player are going to be on top because they gave me a chance from my humble beginnings back in Cameroon in the small town Kumba and the school I went to, St Joseph’s College Sasse,” Elokobi said. “Losing my dad when I was ten years of age through diabetes. I never saw this day was going to happen. I took one day at a time. Had faith, had belief in myself.
“Everything I did was to be a better man. Everything I do
today is to try and be a better man, a better person, and a better manager.
“I am still very much learning my trade. But when you look back on this managerial journey, it’s all about having the right environment, the right owners who will back you.
“In the last 18 months, I haven’t had a day off. I put my heart and soul into everything I do. If it’s not a success, I know I gave it my all.”
Part of that is the connection with his fans. In the build-up to their fourth round tie, the Stones boss implored players and fans to enjoy every moment. As the team coach pulled up to the stadium for the lunchtime kick-off, he even hopped off the bus and asked for the gates to be reopened so he could speak with their welcoming faithful.
“It was an appreciation to tell them to enjoy every bit,” he said.
“As a football club, we went through a tough time last season. In interviews I told them I kept believing and reminding them, trust the process. Believe, one day, we will be smiling again.”