By Daily Sports on December 6, 2018

Fasten your seat belts, visit Benin City if you’re not already there, for top grassroots clubs that have the next big Isaac Success, Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi et al would be in the City for a big football competition known as IB champions Cup.

For those who want to see well-managed and tactically sound youth teams from all over Nigeria, those folks who long for football untainted by the “win at home by all means” syndrome, who want to watch young and hungry natural talents at their purest best, and who want to enjoy the frenzied atmosphere of a football venue, cuddled up with loved ones while easing on some soft drinks, then the Aruogba sports complex in the Airport Road area of Benin City  is where the action would be.

Abuja-based sports outfit IB Sports, owned by football manager, buff and philanthropist Idahosa Benjamin are the brains behind the competition which aims at bringing the finest grassroots clubs together to lock horns and add color to the festive period as well as serving as a platform for the players to exhibit their talents before the watching eyes of top player’s intermediaries, scouts and Football fans.

The line-up of participating clubs is impressive profile-wise.

From Abuja comes IB Sports FC who have had a successful year, winning shinning in several youth tournaments, including a strong showing in German giant club Bayern Munich’s scouting tournament, which culminated in some players of the club getting invitations for foreign trials.

Then, this year, the club’s super talented defender Adeniyi Oluwatimilehin made it as far as the National Under-17 team the Golden Eaglets and was an integral part of the team that won the Under 17 WAFU Cup this year, and would expectedly be an influential player in Tanzania early next year in the Under-17African Nations Cup as the Eaglets chase a world Cup ticket. Oluwatimilehin will feature for IB Sports in the competition.

Another solid team taking part are Eagles Wings of Benin who gave pro 1 side Bendel Insurance a run for their money in the last Edo FA Cup, losing to a late goal.

The club is backed by a top football player’s intermediary Darlington

Ogbeifun Eseosa is credited to have acted as the agent of some top players including Super Eagles legend Finidi George, who he helped secure a move to Real Betis during the latter’s playing days.

Eseosa also played a role in the transfer of Isaac Success from Benin-bases grassroots Club BJ Foundation to Granada in 2013.

Former Edo State League champions Benin Warriors are also going to be a part of the competition following impressive showings in earlier national youth tournaments, including the Bet9ja Cup and the David Ejoor Cup competitions.

Other big name teams who are going to bring their exciting youngsters to the show are Dreams FC of Bayelsa and Sporting FC of Kwara State.

Chief coach of IB Sports FC is Nnamdi Onuigbo, a highly regarded figure who has at several times been a part of the coaching crew of several Nigerian national teams, including the bronze-winning Rio Olympics football team, the dream Team in 2016.

While speaking about the significance of the competition, Onuigbo showered praise on the tournament organiser Idahosa for his sponsorship of the competition.

“For the organisers it’s always a way to take the youths off the street and use their talents rightly instead of engaging in social vices.

“Also it’s an opportunity for managers who would be watching to scout exceptional talents from Edo State and across Nigeria.

“Mr. Ehiorigie Benjamin Idahosa is a sports loving man and his decision to give back to this his society says it all

“He believes investment in human lives is the greatest investment. He hopes the Edo community can enjoy the best of football in this festive period

“With top teams in Edo and from other parts of the country participating, hopefully the longtime argument of which part of Nigeria has the most talented player can be settled finally,” Onuigbo said.

The competition would begin on December 10, while the final match takes place on December 16.

Prize money for competition has been fixed at 150,000 naira for winners, while runners up will go home with 75,000 naira and the third placed team will take home 50,000 naira.

Let the ball roll.

•Photo shows Golden Eaglets Star Oluwatimilehin of IB Sports, Abuja.

Source Daily Sports

Posted December 6, 2018

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