By Daily Sports on December 13, 2018

The beauty of football. When the direction of games look predictable, a twist comes along to change the course of events and leave observers scratching heads in utter surprise. 

So it has been at the IB Champions Cup competition  for grassroots players currently holding in Benin City. 

First it was former Edo Champions Benin Warriors who came as hot favorites for the tournament.  After two straight games, the Warriors had been tumbled rather embarrassingly by less fancied clubs of visibly younger players. 

Their first game was a 1-4 hammering in the hands of Chimosky FC of Delta State.  

If that surprise had not left the system, more was to come as the Warriors succumbed to a 0-1 loss the following day to Lee FC. 

Earlier, Eagles Wings FC, a fast rising and well-oiled grassroots Club were brought down by Dreams FC of Bayelsa State in a result that followed the pattern of shocking outcomes in the tournament. 

Then on Wednesday morning, perhaps the biggest shock was to come when the obviously youngest team in the competition, Lee FC faced the club owned by the tournament host IB Sports Dreams FC of Abuja. 

At the end of 90 minutes of battle, the scoreline was 3-0 in favor of Lee FC against an IB Sports Dreams side that reached the semi final of the FCT FA Cup earlier this year. 

The star of the sure and a shoo-in so far for tournament best player was one young attacking midfielder Monsuru Umoru who capped a very brilliant performance with three assists to put IB Sports Dreams on the verge of elimination from the tournament. 

Umoru is a player who catches the eye easily, and what a revelation he has been here.  His passing range is unbelievable. He's a mobile and deceptive midfielder who hardly loses the ball. Think Luka Modric and it's a closer description of the petit lad. 

The tournament itself has been a quality-filled one, with an amazing numbers of young players showing surprisingly very high technical and tactical knowledge of the game, making matches so enjoyable to watch. 

As it stands in Group B of the IB champions Cup, the two heavy favorites Benin Warriors and IB Sports Dreams are going out. In football anything can happen. Yes, anything. 

•Photo shows Monsuru Umoru

Source Daily Sports

Posted December 13, 2018

Balogun: Super Eagles Understand The Pain Of Missing...

LMC to probe 5 months’ no-pay claim by...

2023 Lagos Street Soccer Championship: Registration Opens 5...

Giroud Equal Henry’s Record As France Beats Australia...

Peace in Nigerian sports – Going back to...

De Bruyne key to Manchester City’s Premier League...