Six players to watch from Baller League as former Team GB Olympics ace is hailed by Shearer after stealing show
BALLER League UK kicked off on Monday night – and delivered on everything it had promised.
With huge names like John Terry, Jody Morris, Jens Lehmann, Gary Lineker, Chunkz, The Sidemen, Alan Shearer and more involved, the pressure was on to deliver on debut night.
With the rules being hugely different to normal football, it was spectacular to see how the players took to the format.
Some really stood out, even among talents from the football league and ex-Premier League players like Ciaran Clark and Marvin Sordell.
It was Angry Ginge’s ‘YANITED’ who ended the night at the top of the tree.
But there were a host of players who impressed from each game.
SunSport’s Lloyd Canfield has noted down the ballers to watch…
Game One: Mo Mahyoub – YANITED
PK Humble will take the headlines in this game, with his performance bringing the dancing, the skills and the entertainment to the pitch alongside the first goal of the tournament.
But it was Mo Mahyoub who stole the show for YANITED on night one.
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The attacker was on fire with electric feet, and scored a beauty at the near post, just kissing it before hitting the back of the net.
It was a brace for Mo on the night before you knew it, and he was awarded the Man of the match too.
He is going to be a threat in this league, and it was evident he has shone previously at academies like Man City and Man Utd as well as becoming Manchester’s 1v1 ‘Top Baller’ champion.
Serious tekkers.
Game Two: Declan McCarthy – MVPs United
Alisha Lehmann’s MVPs United took the win over Clint419’s FC R.T.W, and it was no doubt down to their sensational goalkeeper.
A good link-up up top provided them with goals, but it was a stunning triple save from McCarthy that really blew me away.
Former Newcastle striker Michael Ndiweni is not to be sniffed at, and neither is ex-Manchester United midfielder Josh Harrop, but the man in net managed to deny them both numerous times.
He was a great stopper, but in this format you also have to be great with your feet, and he had it all.
Game Three: Michael Folivi – SDS FC
Coming up against a side managed by John Terry and Jody Morris would strike fear into some forwards.
Not Michael Folivi.
The ex-AFC Wimbledon frontman looked more than comfy on the ball, showed off no better than when he strolled forward from the penalty line to stroke the ball into the top right corner when the pressure was on.
The 27-year-old is up against some elite forwards in this competition, but for my money he is one of the very best involved.
Expect to see more from the lethal striker for SDS FC, who looked like one of the best teams on the night.
Game Four: Michael Hill – Santan FC
Michael’s footballing pedigree, being formed at academies like Chelsea and Fulham was evident from the get go as he took on a Prem defender with 200 caps in Ciaran Clark.
The midfielder was the ‘Starlight’, always in the right ‘Location’ to put the ball in the back of the net in what was a crunch ‘Clash’ for Dave’s side.
Working perfectly in the ‘System’, defenders will be having a ‘heart attack’ seeing him line up against them next week.
There really were ‘No Words’ that would do his performance justice, with a clean touch and tidy finish making it clear why his gaffer gave him the nickname KDB previously.
Game Five: Toby Bull – M7 FC
Miniminter’s M7 FC clutched up with a win against Chloe Kelly’s Wembley Rangers, with another goalkeeper proving one to watch in this game.
The ex-Brighton stopper, who was in their matchday squad for a win over Manchester United in 2022 now plays for Lewes FC – and is still only 21.
Let me tell you this kid made some exceptional saves, with two big ones springing to mind, palmed onto the post and bar.
In what was such a tight game his performance was vital, and was another stopper who looked relaxed and composed with the ball at his feet.
If I was Todd Boehly at Chelsea, I’d be taking a look that’s for sure.
Game Six: Marvin Sordell – Depotrio FC
Being a striker selected for the team by Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer can either bring you extreme pressure or extreme confidence.
For ex-Prem baller Marvin Sordell, it was the latter.
A debut hat-trick bought critical acclaim from Newcastle legend Shearer, and it was more than deserved.
When the 1v1 wildcard was called, it was he who stood up, lobbing Henri Lansbury and watching the ball loop into the back of the net as well as keeping it out of his own.
A sublime performance from the Kettering Town forward who previously represented Bolton, Burnley, Watford and even Team GB at the Olympics showed that this is far from the end of his journey.
An experienced attacker in these tight games will bring an air of calmness to his side which may just prove vital as we progress through the league.