MONROVIA — The long road through the Bettomax Champions Cup comes down to one final contest today as Bea Mountain FC and Watanga FC meet for the championship, with both sides carrying different motivations into a final that promises to provide a fitting conclusion to Liberia’s premier preseason tournament.
By Christopher C. Walker | [email protected]
The two clubs arrive at the decisive match after navigating different paths through the competition, but neither enters the final as an unknown opponent to the other.
They have already met in the group stage, where neither side could find the breakthrough in a goalless draw.
Today, however, there can be no shared points. There must be a winner.
Awaiting the champions is a US$12,000 prize, along with the prestige of being crowned Bettomax Champions Cup winners.
For Bea Mountain, the final represents an opportunity to finally change a difficult recent record against Watanga.
For Watanga, it is another chance to demonstrate their superiority over a side they have repeatedly managed to overcome. With the trophy, money, and bragging rights on the line, the final has all the ingredients of a heavyweight Liberian football contest.
Bea Mountain Carry the Momentum and Expectations
If there is one team many followers have identified as capable of winning this tournament, it is Bea Mountain. Their journey to the final has given supporters plenty of reasons for optimism, highlighted by a convincing 3-1 semifinal victory over LISCR FC, a result that underlined their attacking quality and strengthened their status as tournament favorites.
Much of the attention has centered on Darius Garmondeh, whose arrival has already proven to be a major boost for the club. Garmondeh scored twice in the semifinal against LISCR, continuing an impressive campaign and establishing himself as the primary threat Watanga’s defense must monitor.
However, Bea Mountain is far from a one-man show. The squad features experienced talent throughout, including Ralph Weah, Fredrick Dennis, and Pewee Bestman, giving the technical staff depth and tactical flexibility for their biggest match of the competition.
This also marks Bea Mountain’s second appearance in the Bettomax Champions Cup final. Their first came in the inaugural edition, where they suffered heartbreak against Heaven Eleven in a penalty shootout.
Today offers a direct opportunity for redemption, provided their attacking form can finally break down Watanga’s defensive setup.
History Gives Watanga the Edge Despite Key Absence
While Bea Mountain enters today’s final with momentum, history provides a stern warning.
Across 13 previous meetings between the two clubs, Watanga holds a clear advantage with six wins, Bea Mountain winning three, and four matches ending in draws.
The numbers become even more significant when considering recent history. Last season, Watanga defeated Bea Mountain in both league encounters en route to winning the LFA First Division championship, leaving Bea Mountain in second place.
Despite that historical edge, Watanga Head Coach Theophilus “Geekor” faces a major tactical challenge for the final.
Watanga FC Head Coach Theophilus “Geekor” says his team will approach Thursday’s Bettomax Champions Cup final against Bea Mountain with a strong mentality, defensive discipline and a clear determination to win.
Geekor believes Bea Mountain’s attacking strength will require his players to be aggressive and disciplined defensively.
“They have a very strong attack and we have to be defensively aggressive to contain them,” Geekor said.
For the Watanga coach, however, the challenge is not only about stopping Bea Mountain. He says his players have their own motivation to establish themselves as the best.
“A strong mentality to succeed and be second to none. We always want to be the best in everything we do,” he said.
Watanga also carry the memory of last season’s Bettomax Champions Cup, which Geekor believes did not meet the club’s expectations.
“Our quest to be the #1 in whatever game we play is also a strong factor,” he added. “For us, we strongly think that we didn’t do well last season in the BETTOMAX Cup, so this is our time also.”
The coach expects Bea Mountain’s new-look squad to provide a difficult test, describing the team as creative, strong and aggressive.
“Too many new players, who are very eager. Creative, strong, and aggressive,” Geekor said, while also highlighting goalkeeper Ahmed Savage as an important reason Bea Mountain should not be expected to concede goals easily.
With the final expected to be decided by small margins, Geekor identified defensive discipline as one of the most important factors for Watanga.
He also believes his team has grown stronger mentally throughout the tournament.
“More resilient than ever before. More purposeful to win,” he said.
Beyond the trophy, Thursday’s final carries additional significance for Watanga following what Geekor described as a disappointing CAF Champions League experience.
Winning the Bettomax Champions Cup, he believes, could provide renewed belief ahead of the new season.
“It will rekindle our hope of becoming a very strong contender this season and give us satisfaction or something to be proud of after our CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE debacle,” Geekor said.
Watanga will also have to cope with the absence of Varney B. Varney, who was sent off during the semi-final victory over LPRC Oilers after receiving a second yellow card for taking off his shirt during his goal celebration.
Despite the setback, Geekor is calling on supporters to remain behind the team.
“Keep believing in us. Stand by us. We are on this journey together,” he said
And with a major trophy at stake, the Watanga coach promised that his players would leave everything on the field.
“Football has its cruelty, but we will do our best to bring out the HEROES in us tomorrow by fighting for every ball on the pitch,” Geekor said.
“When we get on that pitch tomorrow, it will not be about playing to the gallery. It will be a game of purpose from the lads.”
With Bea Mountain seeking to overcome Watanga’s historical advantage and Watanga looking to add the Bettomax Champions Cup to their ambitions for the new season, Thursday’s final promises to be more than a preseason fixture.
Watanga will be without star forward Varney B. Varney, who was sent off during their 2-0 semi final win over LPRC Oilers. After scoring Watanga’s second goal, Varney removed his shirt in celebration, earning a second yellow card and an automatic dismissal.
Varney’s suspension leaves Kindness Cole, who opened the semi-final scoring with a spectacular set-piece, alongside Choice Howard, Jusu Dukuly, and Alexander Curtis to shoulder the workload.
Behind them, goalkeeper Teddy Kollie will play a critical role in organizing the defence to keep Bea Mountain’s high-scoring frontline at bay.
US$12,000 and Confidential MVP Cash Award
The financial stakes add significant weight to today’s championship. In addition to the team cash rewards, individual excellence will be recognized following the final whistle.
The Tournament Champions will walk away with US$12,000 as the grand prize.
Also, each of the participating teams was given US$2,500 as preparation fees.
The tournament comprised of the eight participating LFA First Division clubs to assist with preseason preparations.
The Most Valuable Player (MVP) is expected to receive a huge prize, which is an undisclosed cash prize.
Bettomax representative Fallah Braima confirmed that the exact MVP award amount will not be disclosed until after the match to ensure the figure does not influence player performance or the selection process.
Given that the recent women’s competition featured a massive MVP purse, speculation remains high regarding the final figure for the men’s top performer.
A Championship Battle with No Room for the Past
When the referee blows the opening whistle today, past head-to-head statistics and group-stage calculations drop away.
There are no points to split and no safety net of a draw.
For Bea Mountain, the match is about proving that past struggles against Watanga no longer define the rivalry.
For Watanga, it is an opportunity to demonstrate that their domestic dominance remains intact even without one of their premier key attackers. With financial rewards, silverware, and bragging rights on the line, Liberia’s preseason finale is set for a dramatic conclusion.
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