http://www.liverpoolfchk.com
The 2008 Ibusa Annual Soccer Championship: How it went.
The Ibusa Annual Soccer Championship tagged “Ibusa 2008” played at the Umejei Primary School sports ground has come and gone, but what remains unforgettable is the memory the competition left in the minds of football enthusiasts who were thrilled with wonderful displays. The competition, which commenced on December 20, 2008 ended on a very colorful note at the finals played between Umuekea and Umuodafe as the Ibusa community stood for the last match of the tournament. It was beautifully spectacular as football fans, Anioma over yelled at every misses and applauded every good attempt too.
One remarkable feature of this year’s event is that it recorded impressive turn out of spectators including high profile personalities from Ibusa and nearby communities, a development that the competition has really grown in stature. Understandably there were talks throughout the town, as each of the nine Quarters (with the exception of Ogboli) prepared to enter the competition with determination to lift the trophy. Suspension was placed on Ogboli immediately after the 2007 edition after youths from that quarter decided to become violent in disagreement with the decision of the centre referee.
The stage was soon set for the healthy rivalry among the nine Quarters destined to battle for the Umejei Cup won last year by Bank PHB sponsored Umueze Quarter. The competition also witnessed the back of singing supporters who commanded respects from the audience, singing, dancing and clapping all day long. The hopes of some these supporters were dashed while those of others were gloriously sustained after each of the matches played. The use of supporters club in this year’s competition also goes to confirm that the competition is fast growing.
The 2008 Ibusa Annual Soccer Championship was grouped thus:
GROUP A
1. ?Umueze Football Club
2. ?Odafe Bombers Football Club of Umuodafe
3. ?Ekea Lions Football Club of Umuekea
4. ?Umuwagwu Football Club
GROUP B
1. ?Ogbeowele Football Club
2. ?Umuidinaisagba Football Club
3. ?Umuezeagwu Football Club
4. ?Umuehea Fo0otball Club
MATCH NO. ??TEAM
1. ??Umueze ??0 Vs ??Umuodafe ?1
2. ?Ogbeowele??1 Vs ??Umuidinaisagba 0
3. ?Umuekea ??3 ??Vs ??Umuwagwu ??0
4. ?Umuezeagwu1 Vs ??Umuehea ??1
5. ?Umuekea ??1 ??Vs ??Umueze ??0
6. ?Umuodafe ?1 ??Vs ??Umuwagwu ??0
7. ?Umuezeagwu1 Vs ??Ogbeowele ??1
8. ?Umuidinaisagba1 ?Vs ??Umuehea ??0
9. ?Umuwagwu??0 ??Vs ??Umueze ??4
10. ??Umuehea ??0 ??Vs ??Ogbeowele ??1
11. ??Umuekea ??1 ??Vs ??Umuodafe ?0
12. ??Umuidinaisagba 0 Vs ??Umuezeagwu 1
SEMI FINALS
13. ??Umuekea ??2 ??Vs ??Umuezeagwu 0
14. ??Umuodafe ?1 ??Vs ??Ogbeowele ??0
THIRD PLACE
15. ??Ogbeowele ?Vs ??Umuezeagwu
FINALS
16. ??Umuekea ??1 Vs ??Umuodafe ?0
The Umuekea team emerged the over all winners of the tournament, outstandingly setting two remarkable records in the tournament. First, the only team in the history of the tournament to enjoy unbeaten runs, the Umuekea team never experienced defeat in this year’s edition, victoriously and thoroughly crushing every team they encountered. Secondly, The Umuekea team also did not concede a single goal in the entire competition, that no attacking opponent of the team found the back of the net of the 2008 Umejei Champions is quite a commendable feat achieved by the rock solid defence players of the team.
This records set by the Umuekea team may be difficult to shatter considering the very high degree of competitiveness and healthy rivalry growing among the the ten Quarters of the Ibusa community, football wise. The Umuekea team proved that the combination of mature-experienced and young and dynamic players are all it simply takes to demonstrate superiority in the field of soccer as potential opponents displayed fears engaging the team of Umuekea. The usefulness of the bench, something many of the opponent teams lacked must be overemphasized as one factor that enabled the Umuekea easily overran their counterparts. The expertise of the coaching crew led by “Kekekpu” supported by Philip Ngozi Ifechukwude reliably yielded results. Kekekpu himself a former player showed clever understanding of what it takes to lift silverware.
The 4-time winner-Umuodafe team also presented a strong team in the tournament, only conceding a loss to the Umuekea team. The Odafe Bombers outstandingly performed well, inflicting defeat on each team they played against except the invincible Umuekea team. The matches between the two teams first at the group stage of the tournament and finals were labeled “El-Classico” by football lovers in the town. However, the Umuekea employed cleverness, speed and seemingly telepathic passes to record constant break through that resulted in the goal scored against Umuodafe team by Henry Odibe, however, one thing that cannot be disputed is that the Umuodafe team gave the Umuekea a run for their money.
Interestingly, no single penalty was witnessed throughout the tournament as a result of fowl committed by any player, as all matches were clearly won courtesy of experienced match officials. It must also be noted that the team of commentators remarkably played concerted roles in boosting the morale of players, supplying team managers and coaches with vital information that had to do with football rules and regulations and helping to calm the nerves of the fans.
In all, credit should be given to the organizers of the Annual competition especially the ever indefatigable and Ibusa patriotic Emmanuel “Kwasa” Amatokwu who has a perfect understanding of relationship with the youths. The security consciousness of the organizers with a team of special policemen and a local vigilante group called “Egbeni” which was though put in place only at the finals of the competition to check any outbreak of violence was a good development and a high score of point. Fortunately, the supportive fans cheered their teams harmlessly and got carried away.
PAST WINNERS OF THE TOURNAMENT
1985 ?- Ogbeowele
1986 ?- (No Competition)
1987 ?- Umuekea
1988 ?- Anyalobum
1989 ?- Ogbeowele
1990 ?- Anyalobum
1991 ?- Ogbeowele
1992 ?- Ogbeowele
1993 ?- Anyalobum
1994 ?- Ogbeowele
1995 ?- Umuodafe
1996 ?- Anyalobum
1997 ?- Umuekea
1998 ?- Umuekea
1999 ?- Umuezeagwu
2000 ?- Ogboli
2001 ?- Umuodafe
2002 ?- Umuezeagwu
2003 ?- (No Finals)
2004 ?- Umuodafe
2005 ?- (No Finals)
2006 ?- Umuodafe
2007 ?- Umueze
2008 ?- Umuekea
Tag: LFC Hong Kong | liverpool fc hong kong | liverpool hong kong | liverpool supporters hong kong | liverpool fc hk | Kuyt | Dalglish | Ynwa | Anfield | kenny dalglish | 23 foundation | jamie carragher | Suarez | steven gerrard | Lfc hk | liverpool fc | Liverpool | Lfc |
没有评论:
发表评论