Monrovia – The long-awaited President’s Cup of the Liberia Football Association will kick off Wednesday, October 23, 2019 with some entertaining matches.
The preseason tournament was to take place before the start of last season but could not due to technical and administrative issues.
Chapter 4, Article 4, Section 1.2 of the rules that govern the 2019 Orange-sponsored league says the tournament shall be comprised of the top eight clubs in the first division, five in the second division, four in the women’s division and three from the national third division play-offs.
Clubs to feature from the first division include champions LPRC Oilers, runner-up LISCR FC, Watanga FC, Nimba United, Small Town, Monrovia Club Breweries, NPA Anchors and Nimba FC, who have replaced Barrack Young Controllers (BYC) following the club’s dissolution.
Champions BYC-II, runner-up Bea Mountain, Gardnersville FC, Freeport FC and Nimba Kwado will represent the second division.
Champions Earth Angels, runner-up Blanco FC, Senior Professionals and Determine Girls make-up the female division.
And champions Sandi FC, runner-up Almighty FC and Stages FC will represent the third division play-offs.
On Saturday October 19, 2019 the draw took place at the FA headquarters with some mouth-watering ties.
According to the draw, second division outfit Gardnersville FC and newly promoted first division side Bea Mountain will kick off the tournament on 23 October at 11:00AM.
In the second match, first division new comers Nimba Kwado will meet Small Town at 1:30PM and first division defending champions LPRC Oilers will test newly-promoted second division side Stages FC at 3:30PM.
On 24 October, Nimba FC will take on newly-promoted second division side Sandi FC of Margibi County at 11:00AM while LISCR FC will face Freeport FC who will play in the top flight of Liberian football for the first time following their promotion last season at 1:30PM. The day’s last game brings Monrovia Club Breweries and NPA Anchor neck to neck at 3:30PM.
On 28 October, Watanga FC will face their former coach Matthew Julutweh, who is in charge of Nimba United at 11:00AM than defending second division champions Barrack Young Controllers (BYC-II) will face Almighty FC for third time in preseason this year.
Both clubs battle in the Who Owns the Land tournament with BYC qualifying over them on a 5-0 aggregate after two games.
In the female version of the tournament Senior Professionals will chase Blanco FC at 3:30PM on October 28th.
The Football Association says the tournament will be played using the knock-out format and kicks from the penalty mark will be used to determine the winner if a match ends in a draw after the regulation time.
“There will be extra 30 minutes (15 minutes per half) for the grand-final if the regulation time fails to produce a winner and kicks from the penalty mark will be used to decide the winner if the match ends in a draw,” a release from the disclosed.
As means of preparation each team participating in the tournament are expected to receive US$250 for the first round, US$300 for the quarter-finals, US$400 for the semi-finals and US$500 for the grand-final.
The champions will receive gold-plated trophies plus US$2,500 for male and US$1,500 for female and gold medals while the runners-up will be decorated with silver medals respectively.
“All players are eligible to play; however, clubs wishing to use another club’s players must obtain a written approval from the lending club because any violation will lead to forfeiture if a complaint is filed”.
“Foreign players, who are on trial without the necessary resident and work permits shall be eligible to play” the rules of the tournament states.
According to the FA, because the tournament is a preseason the normal three substitutions will be increase to five per game.
in addition the new amendments made to the laws of the game by FIFA will be used in addition to the rules used during the 2019 season, which gives birth to the President’s Cups, including the arrival of clubs and the use of their home and away colors.
The Football house warned that only licensed coaches will be allowed in the technical box and all coaches are mandated to visibly display their licenses while on the technical line.