Monrovia- Liberia’s oldest football club Invincible Eleven (IE) pulled a comfortable win over Bushrod Island-based Global Pharma FC on Wednesday at the Samuel K Doe Sports Complex Practice pitch in continuation of the First Division League of the LFA.

By: Christopher C Walker christopherc.walker@frontpageafriaconline.com 

 Coached by former Liberian international midfielder Kelvin Sebwe, IE grabbed their second win of the season in a 2-0 win.

Global Pharma FC started the game as the better side but was unlucky to get a goal in the opening minutes of the match.

Michael Kumeh had a lot of changes to put the Pharmacists in front but didn’t utilize them. IE defense came under immense pleasure but they stood their ground to deny Global Pharma.

Fredrick Bono had a free header missed from Global Pharma later before Derrick Julu made three wonderful saves to stand in the way of the boy from Bushrod Island.

Minutes later, former Global Pharma striker Amadiah Kawah saw his effort saved as the first half ended goalless.

Back from the break, Global Pharma kept asking all the questions but got hit late and conceded after the run of play with Hamzi Wilson getting the match opener.

Down by a goal, Coach Keatu Smith made a double substitution, bringing on Vakaba Kamara and Nicholas Slewion but it didn’t change anything as IE increased their lead through substitute Kenneth Nah, whose shot beat Koulibaly at the near post to seal a 2-0 win for the IE.

The ‘Yellow Boys’ have drawn four, lost four and won two. They scored 14 and conceded 16 games.

Wednesday’s victory took IE off the relegation zone and they will be hoping to improve in their next game.

In the late kickoff at the SKD Sports Complex Practice pitch, Watanga FC beat Heaven Eleven 1-0. LISCR FC came from a goal down to beat Freeport FC 2-1 at the Tusa field in Gardnerville.

Spartacus triumphed over Vision Shooters with a 7-point lead, clinching a 77-70 victory on Tuesday as the playoffs of the 2024 National Basketball 2nd Division Championship continued at the SKD Gym. Vision Shooters will now look to bounce back in Game 2 to force a decisive Game 3 and keep their hopes alive for a spot in the grand finale. A loss in Game 2, however, would end their campaign.

In the women’s division, Invincible Eleven (IE) eked out a narrow 55-54 win over D-Rockas in a thrilling match that will be remembered as one of the best in the history of the Liberia Basketball Association National League. This fiercely competitive game was marked by excitement and technical brilliance from both teams. IE will need another victory in Game 2 to secure a place in the grand final and earn a spot as one of two women’s clubs representing Liberia in the next edition of the FIBA Women’s Champions Championship.

Meanwhile, in the 3rd division, Knight Reapers suffered their first defeat of the season, falling to Highway Princes by a score of 45-39.

The SKD Gym has become a regular hub for basketball enthusiasts, who gather daily to enjoy the intense and thrilling matches.

The Liberia Football Association (LFA) has fined Invincible Eleven (IE) L$50,000 and banned medic Jeremiah Gayflor for four matches for unruly behavior.

By Jaheim T.  Tumu

Gayflor ran unto the pitch and intentionally threw sachets of water at referee Thomas McGill during an Orange first division match between IE and Bea Mountain at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium on 26 November. 

He also made life threatening statements at the team of match officials.

The decision to punish IE and Gayflor is in keeping with chapter four, article two (b) of the regulations governing the 2023/2024 Orange national league.

It says “a club official, player, LFA official or member of a club, who incites players against other players or match officials because of their decisions or encourages an unhealthy demonstration in whatever form and commits an offense, shall be liable to a fine of L$50,000 and suspended from attending the club’s next four round of matches under the jurisdiction of the LFA. The grievance and disciplinary committee could impose further punishment based on the severity of the offense.”  

IE must pay the fine before their next match in the second phase or will face further disciplinary action.

In another development the Liberia Football Association (LFA) has, with immediate effect, handed a four-match ban to Class ‘C’ referee Benedict Gbar for poor officiating.

It followed an investigation by the referee committee.

Gbar’s suspension is based on his failure to award a clear penalty to Republic FC in the 87th minute in a women’s lower league match with Knelling FC at the Samuel Kanyon Doe sports complex practice pitch on 26 December in the Montserrado County sub-association.                        

Video footage showed a player was fouled in the penalty area but Gbar allowed play to continue.

Monrovia – Invincible Eleven (IE) Struggle of the season continued over the weekend with the resignation of their president Samuel Wlue from the club as president of Invincible Eleven Majestic sports Association.

Report by Christopher C. Walker – christopher.walker@frontpageafricaonline.com

The former IE President in his letter of resignation cited his busy schedule as reasons for his decision to step down as President.

Wlue took over the club as president from businessman Sam Gibson in September of 2016 after Gibson ‘s resignation, the than Managing Director of the National Housing Authority an entity of government was appointed by the Board of Directors of the club to a position he accepted hold heartedly but after few months the football team complaint of not feeling his presence.

Samuel Wlue, who is now Minister of Transport, has found it difficult in the last eight months meeting players and officials of IE both basketball and football teams blaming it on his busy schedule knowing very well his schedule before accepting to be president of the Club.

The only good IE fans can be proud of under Wlue is that IE basketball team returned to the basketball league for the first time in ten years but underperformed in their first season, while the football team continued at the bottom of the first division table with four points from thirteen matches conceding a total of 31 goals and scoring nine, they have won just a game and drew one, the worst record for IE in their history.

Unlike Mighty Barrolle who’s president is Information Minister Eugene Nagbe is most of the time been seen at his club games to given them some extra motivation who are also fighting to remain in the first division after their returned to the top flight of Liberian Football after three seasons in the second division.

As statistics is concern the than IE president was only able to manage 20 minutes to see IE’s defeat at the hands of their traditional rivals Barrolle at the ATS during the first phase something football lovers feels is undermining the team’s in terms of their performance.

“Sun Shine” IE have not felt the presence of a President since their former president Dr. Richard Tolbert was pressure to step down as president.

Mr. Wlue’s continuous absence from IE matches created doubts among the fans with one group debating that he is not a fan of the club as such there is no passion for the club while others feels he is a fan of the club but do not love going on the field, meanwhile IE players have repeatedly said they did not know their President in person.

However the Club’s Board of Directors have appointed its Vice President for International Affairs, who is also a former player of the Seku Keita as Acting president pending election of the Invincible Eleven Majestic Sports Association.

Keita has been in the country working alongside Mr. Wlue to get the club running but his effort has not been notice.

There are reports that Keita is also interested in taking over IE permanently as president and is now task with the responsibility of taking Liberia’s oldest club to election is the shortest possible time.

Meanwhile the Board of Invincible Eleven Majestic Sports Association over the weekend setup a six-man election Committee to overseas the election for a new president before the start of the LFA and LBA next league season.

Appointed election Committee members are Martin George, former Liberia Water and Sewe Corporation Managing Director Charles Allen, Macketta Gurley, Elizabeth Banenan and JB. Konowah.

The Six- man committee is expected to meet later this week where the head of the Committee will be announced.

Monrovia – Van-Dave Harmon scored the only goal for the defending Champions at North Star Stadium against Nimba United, in their final match of the first phase of the Liberia Football Association First Division league.

BYC’s win Sunday over United took their points of the first phase to 21, and into 2^nd place, seven points, behind league leaders Fassell FC.

The visitors took the lead in the 71^st minute when Van-Dave raced unto Hilton Varney’s through ball, and hammered the ball into the roof of the net.

Mustapha Lormell should have leveled the score with a header from six yards out, but missed, though visitors BYC created more chances, despite their plenty of possessions.

Randy Dukuly could have made more comfortable for Copper Sannah’s side when his header kissed the crossbar, ending a run of two games without a win in the league.

Nimba United missed the chance to move up the twelve teams table from seventh to fourth, after their second defeat at home this season; they remain seventh on the log with 15 points.

Five minutes into the match the inform Nimba United winger Stanley Whitfield right foot shot was save by Allenton Sembeh.

A minute later Van-Dave missing goal continue as he missed a one on one with United Keeper Edmund Borloh .

Van-Dave and Abdulai Bility had a “one/two” connection deep in United’s half but Van-Dave’s shot went wild.

Whitfield dangerous pace down the left flank was consistently intercepted by the returning BYC right back Karleo Anderson.

26^th minute United Captain Michael Fahnbulleh was yellow carded for pulling down Randy Dukuly a minute later David Tweh was booked for similar foul on Mustapha Lormall.

Darlington Suwo was introduced in the 35^th minute for the injured Karsini Konneh.

Randy Missed an empty post from four yards, to the disbelief of spectators at North Stadium.

38^th minute of the first half BYC Abdulai Bility was replaced by Abraham Koffa Dougbeh due to an injury  he sustained.

There had been a sense that BYC’s performance has improved but scoring goals seems to be a major problem for them this season without the results particularly in the league – following suit.

But this was an assured display, coupled with a positive result, and will give Sannah hopes that his side can now build on the troubling run of two draws.

A defeat would have proven extremely costly to the “Go Blue Boys” hopes of claiming the Championship they won last season, and would have put them ten points behind Fassell FC.

Nimba United produced very little, despite their command of the ball, but it was BYC who were the more dangerous side through the attacking pace of David Tweh, Van-Dave and Randy Dukuly. Including Abdulai Bility’s neat passing and Tweh’s link-up play.

But it was left back Hilton Varney who created the goal, dispossessing Terrance Jones from the wing of the park, releasing Van-Dave who control the ball well and blast the ball in the top roof of the United goal. Randy showed occasional signs of menace, forcing a fine save from Nimba United keeper Edmund Borloh after his header hit against the woodwork.

It was all lined up to be the perfect afternoon for Van-Dave, who has not score for the “Blue Boys” since their meeting with IE when he scored a hat trick but turned around his fortunes to increase his goal tally to six goals in the league and three assists.

Sannah told reporters after the match that Bility injury was not very serious, and expects him to be back in time for their next game of the season against SuperSport United of South African in the CAF Cup next month, at home on April 9, 2017.

Ability’s absence could open up a return to the side for Claudius Morris, who was an unused substitute against LISCR FC in their disappointing draw at the Blue Field, while Sylvanus Morris and Junior Barshall could also be options.

What went wrong for United?

It was a disappointing end to a positive week for Abraham Sessay, who is in charge of the Mountaineers for the rest of the season.

Sessay took over from Emmanuel Kaykay who resigned as head coach of United after three months with the Mountaineers due to allege interference on technical matters from the Adolphus Dolo President and owner of Nimba United.  

He noted that his defense should be held responsible for his team’s defeat because they did not play to instructions.

“I feels disappointed because since I left BYC this is the first time for them to beat me in a match, but that’s football”.

BYC is a tough team they give us tough time but we are going to bounce back stronger during the second phase.

 Meanwhile in the only game at the Antoinette Tubman Liberia’s Oldest Football Club Invincible Eleven (IE) secure their first win of the season over ELWA United.

IE who are currently in the relegation Zone defeated eight men ELWA United 4-0.

The boys from ELWA started the match with nine men and were reduced to eight men in the 43^rd minute when they were down 4-0.

The game had to be caught off due to three injured players of ELWA United as central referee  Christopher Nylander, because the rules of the game states that five players cannot start or continue a game.

Sunday result means IE remains in the relegation zone with four points from eleven matches.

Report by Christopher Walker christopherc.walker@yahoo.com

Monrovia – Van Dave Harmon scored a hat-trick as first division defending champions Barrack Young Controllers (BYC) condemned Invincible Eleven (IE) to their eighth successive defeat in the Liberia Football Association (LFA) national league.

Report by Danesius Marteh, danesius.marteh@frontpageafricaonline.com

It was a victory, which was sealed and stamped at the Blue Field, but it took BYC until the 19^th minute for the deadlock to be broken.

Harmon, who also set-up Yaya Bility in the first half, got two in the second period in between Prince Saydee and Mark Paye’s goals to ensure BYC recorded the biggest win of the season.

It was their first game since eliminating Mali’s Stade Malien 7-6 on penalties in the preliminary round of the Caf Champions League in Bamako on February 19.

IE coach Samuel Sumo, who took charge of his first game after signing a six-month contract, conceded that IE need quality players to avoid relegation.

Sumo, who guided Montserrado to their first ever county title in January, said he can save the club from relegation.

The 2016/2017 national league, which was put on ice due to a strike by clubs on February 24, resumed after a 50-percent payment was made.

The clubs were demanding a promised financial assistance by LFA President Musa Bility from the Cellcom/Orange sponsorship deal and FIFA financial assistance program (FAP).

But the LFA refuted media reports that its cherished sponsor has faulted on its responsibility.

A March 2 release by communications consultant Horatio Willie, which was posted on Facebook, described the reports of Cellcom’s failure to live up to its sponsorship obligation as evil and against the growth of football.

It said the LFA is now providing support to the clubs for the league through support from Cellcom, which has remained to its commitment to support the league over the last seven years.

The LFA believes such massive cooperation and support will continue as Orange takes over from Cellcom.

It said it will continue to partner with Cellcom/Orange for the commercial development of football.

LFA treasurer Jallah D. Corvah had blamed the mobile giant for the strike.

“The FA President was the one, who promised the teams that the fact that we have increment in the support from FIFA, we were going to see how best we can give the teams some money. We planned that the money will come from Cellcom.

“Cellcom has changed its management from Cellcom to Orange. So because of that we have some delays in the receiving of the money from Cellcom.

So we are not paying the teams because Cellcom has not provided the money because the President said that the money was going to come from the sponsorship from Cellcom,” Corvah told Weekend Sports on Fabric 101.1FM on February 25.

At a general meeting on December 19, 2016, Bility promised to give first division clubs US$7,000, second division clubs US$3,000 and female clubs US$2,000 from the Cellcom/LFA three-year deal of US$650,000 and FIFA FAP of US$50,000 allocated for members with a functioning men’s league 10 days after the meeting.

Bility is yet to respond to a February 23 email sent to his Srimex, Gmail and Yahoo accounts.

“Dear Mr. President, at a general meeting on December 19, 2016 at the PA’s Ribhouse in Sinkor, the LFA promised first division clubs US$7,000 and second division clubs US$4,000. Has that money been delivered to the clubs? If not, when will it be delivered?

“Secondly, FrontPageAfrica understands that the LFA has postponed the league because the clubs are demanding the promised-financial assistance. 

Why were Nimba United, LISCR VS ELWA United and BYC’s matches slated for Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday called-off respectively? Your timely response is kindly solicited,” I pleaded. 

Cellcom/Orange, which was contacted on February 28, is yet to respond. 

There had been no league matches since NPA Anchors and Mighty Blue Angels drew 3-3 in the second division and Mighty Barrolle and Keitrace FC settled for a goalless draw in the first division at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS) on February 22.

Matches between winless-Invincible Eleven and LPRC Oilers on February 24; LISCR and ELWA United on February 25 and BYC and Nimba United on February 26 were called-off espectively.

But LFA competitions committee chairman Ansu Dulleh confirmed that the league was called-off to redesign the fixtures in order for Barrack Young Controllers (BYC) and Monrovia Club Breweries, who were involved in Caf Champions League and Confederation Cup, to catch-up with the rest of the teams, who have played more games.

“The league is not at equilibrium. There are teams that have played 10 and nine games while others played six or seven games. So we had to reschedule the fixtures to allow other teams equal with everybody.

“So we have to postpone games for that. So it is not logical for someone to sit in studio and say there was a protest from one little team called ELWA United that what led to the postponement of the league,” Dulleh told Weekend Sport on February 25. 

But where in the world a league is suspended due to outstanding games?

In South Africa and Spain, the leagues weren’t postponed because Mamelodi Sundowns and Real Madrid were involved in the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup in December in Japan. 

Valencia beat Real 2-1 in the La Liga in one of their rescheduled games on February 23.

Sundowns have played 14 games and are having a fixture pile-up with reschedule games to catch-up with the rest of the teams, who have either played 18 or 19 games in the Absa Premier League.

They beat Free State Stars 4-1 in their eighth league game at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on December 3, 2016 before leaving for Japan where they lost 2-0 to Kashima Antlers of Japan on December 11 and 4-1 to South Korea’s Jeonbuk Motors on December 14, 2016 respectively.

Sundowns beat Baroka 1-0 away on December 22, 2016 in game nine and have played five games in 2017.

They beat Bloemfontein Celtics 1-0 away on February 8; Orlando Pirates 6-0 at home on February 11; drew 1-1 away to Chippa United on February 14; beat Platinum Stars 2-1 away on February 21 and Bidvest Wit 2-0 on February 25. 

The truth, which was reconfirmed by FC Fassell and BYC in a TalkFootball chatroom on Facebook, is that the league was suspended due to a communication signed by all first division clubs. 

“I, Reginald K. Nagbe, in collaboration with other club Presidents, will not play any league. The President of the Liberia football Association (LFA) also agreed with us in our last meeting. He gave the league sponsor 10 days.

“If and only if they don’t provide the resources to run the league, he will close down the league.

Yes, there is a strike action because the 10 days expired on Friday [February 24]. Mr. Bility told us that if Cellcom or Orange refused to give the money he will close the league,” wrote FC Fassell President Nagbe.

“That’s not what you and myself discussing. I am talking about using simple logic because if that was the case, then the clubs should have played their outstanding games. So what is the break about?

“[You need to] speak to the spokesman of the clubs, Hon. [Adolphus] Dolo,” said BYC President Sekou Konneh.

BYC Mourns Quincy Burrowes, alias, Quincy B  

Meanwhile, Barrack Young Controllers (BYC) have extended condolence to the bereaved family of Quincy Burrowes, alias, Quincy B.

A press statement, which was posted on the club’s Facebook page, said: “He was our musical inspiration. We will miss him” as hundreds of fans gathered at the John F. Kennedy hospital early March 3 to the news of a promising Liberian musician.

A moment of silence was observed before BYC thrashed Invincible Eleven (IE) 6-0 at the Blue Field in continuation of the Liberia Football Association (LFA) national league on March 3. BYC are planning to visit to his family.

BYC said they regret the death of their promotional artist, who has contributed to the growth of Liberian music.

Quincy B, with fellow Liberian artist Christophe, collaborated on BYC’s 2017 hit song “Who the man dan in the game-BYC.”

Born on April 24, 1996, Quincy B died in a tragic motor accident on March 3 while returning from a performance when his car lost control and summersaulted opposite the Monrovia City Hall.

He was driving and accompanied by his colleagues Feouls Kaba, Margas and C.I.C., who suffered a broken leg but the rest were unharmed.