Report by Christopher C. Walker, [email protected]
Monrovia – Barrack Young Controller has announced the inaugural edition of The Blue Cup, which is expected to kick off on May 8 at the home of the former Liberian Champions, Blue Field in the PHP Community, South Beach, Lynch Street. The tourney is expected to climax on May 12, 2018.
The four-day tournament will feature eight teams from the First, Second, and Third divisions of Liberian football.
First Division (4 teams): BYC-I, LISCR, Barrolle, and Monrovia Club Breweries (MCB)
2nd Division (2 teams) BYC-II, and Bea Mountain
3rd Division (2 teams) Muscat FC and Samaria FC
The 3rd division clubs are last season’s FA Cup semifinalists.
The tournament is BYC’s way of providing an opportunity to players and fans to stay engaged with Liberian football, until the 2018/2019 league commences, according to the “Go Blue Boys.”
“These matches are private affairs, at a private facility (Blue Field) of BYC Football; and are NOT sanctioned by the LFA,” BYC said in a press release.
After receiving their invitation to participate in the tournament all of the six clubs immediately agreed to participate in the tournament and give their full corporation to the laws governing the tournament.
According to the agreement reached between BYC Football and the participating teams, a fee for preparation will be given the clubs.
“The management of BYC football will give all teams a “preparation fee” of L$25,000 and the winner of the BLUE CUP a cash prize of U$1,000 and a trophy, while second place winner will walk away with U$500. There will also be a tournament “Golden Boot trophy.”
“We plan to charge a modest L$50 for entry to all games to off-set advertising, security, and maintenance cost.”
The first edition of the Blue Cup will see Monrovia Club Breweries takes on Bea Mountain on the opening day, with BYC-I taking on Muscat in the second game of the day. On the following day, BYC-II plays Mighty Barrolle in the first game before LISCR meets Samira FC in the second encounter.
On Thursday, May 10, in the Semifinals, the winner from match day 1 will face the winner from match day 2 while the winner from game 3 will face the winner from game 4 for a place in the grand finale, which will be played on Saturday, May 12.
“We’re all delighted to kick-off the inaugural edition of the Blue Cup for this preseason,” BYC FC Vice-President Nathaniel Sherman told the club’s official Facebook page.
“We tend to have this Cup every year which will serve as part of our preseason beginning with this year. I hope it will thoroughly be an enjoyable weekend of football: LISCR, Bea Mountain, and Monrovia Club Breweries are three strong clubs, with good players, who will not only hopefully produce some exciting football, but also provide us with high quality preparations ahead of the new season,” Sherman asserted.