Monrovia – The journey to the grand final of the National County Sports Meet will be today, April 18, 2018, with two matches in both football and kickball at the Samuel K. Doe Sports Complex.
Report by Christopher C. Walker, [email protected]
Nimba, Montserrado, Bong and Margibi counties are the last four teams in the race for the two finalists’ spot in the football category of the competition. Grand Bassa, defending champions Nimba, Margibi and Grand Cape Mount are the counties still challenging for this year’s kickball title.
Montserrado will battle things out with Margibi in a match considered by fans and football pundits as the final before the finals.
Today’s meeting is the second encounter between both teams in this year’s competition as they were paired in Group two and played out to a goalless draw at the Dorris Williams Sports Pitch in Buchanan City, Grand Bassa County.
The defending champions Montserrado County secured their place in the semifinal with a comfortable 5-0 quarterfinal victory over River Gee County on Sunday, April 15, 2018.
Samuel Sumo’s boys started the match with the southeasterners on a slow pace but Michael Dennis got the opener in the first half which ended 1-0. When they came back from the dressing room with much determination, they added four more goals taking their tally to five thereby reaching them into the semifinals.
Marky Karley got a brace for the Boys from Bentol City while Adolphus Robert and Robert Coleman added a goal each to their names.
Their opponents in the semifinals, Margibi County, booked their place in the last four with a hard fought 1-0 victory over Sinoe County on Sunday, April 15, 2018.
Muta Fofanna’s men had to struggle to secure their semifinals place against Sinoe County and remain undefeated so far in the competition like Montserrado County.
Both teams coaches are confident of reaching the final of the competition that will be played on Sunday, April 22, 2018 at the SKD Sports Complex.
Muta, who is in his first year at the Margibi County said his target is to get to the final and win the title for the people of the county because they have not won the prestigious trophy since 2012.
“I am grateful to my players for this victory; our target is the finals to take the cup to Kakata City,” Muta said.
“We are not afraid of Montserrado County we played them during the group stage so they are not new to us. I know the game will be tough because they have a good team but we are prepared to beat them.”
“I have the players who can do the work for me and the support of county authority is good so I see no reason why we are not to win the competition,” the Margibi County coach said.
Montserrado County’s head coach Samuel Sumo said he is not leaving any stone untouched in his quest to retain his championship won last year.
“Everyone will love to beat the champion so we are playing every game like a final because it is the only way we can defend our title,” Sumo added.
According to the champions winning coach, his team is in high spirt for the match and will not underestimate Margibi County.
“Our 5-0 victory over River Gee is a wakeup call to Margibi that we are determined to reach the final and win the title again which is the promise I have made to the county,” Samuel said.
In the early kickoff semifinal match, high flying Bong County which secured a 5-0 victory over Bomi County, will come face to face with Nimba County in a match that promises to be entertaining due to both teams’ performances so far in the competition.
Nimba and Bong which qualified from group one are hoping to make it to the final for the first time in two years.
Nimba got past Grand Cape Mount County 1-0 in the quarterfinal to secure their place in the last four.
Meanwhile defending Kickball Champions, Nimba, will face Grand Cape Mount in a repeat of the football quarterfinal between the two counties but this time in kickball.
Nimba are hoping to reach their third final and win the title for the third times in succession while Margibi will take on Grand Bassa County in the day’s last match.
The final of the tournament will be played on Sunday, April 22, between winners of the semifinal matches.
This year’s tournament is played under the theme, “Uniting Liberians After Elections.”