With 18 football and kickball matches played across four different venues across the country, the 2017-18 Liberia National County Sports Meet has finally kicked off.
Over the weekend, there were victories for all the host counties in the football category except for Sinoe, which was defeated by Grand Kru.
In Group B, which held the official kickoff, Bong’s football team made a dream start to the competition with a 2-1 win over Lofa. The Kpatwee Boys picked up the three points at home in the presence of Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor, who hails from Bong.
The team brought smiles to the face of the vice president through Kulah Gboryonah, whose brace was enough to sink Lofa.
The kickball score between the two counties, however, produced a different result, as Lofa went on to beat Bong 6-3 to grab their first victory of the tournament.
Nimba made sure they didn’t get left behind, securing a narrow win over Grand Gedeh. The Mountaineers squeezed in a single goal to collect all three points from their first match. Samira Football Club’s striker Peter Bleedi scored the only goal of the match to give Nimba the much-needed three points.
Like the football team, Nimba’s girls kicked off the tournament with an exciting victory. The Mountaineer girls beat Grand Gedeh 6-0. Bong and Nimba will be hoping to grab a place in the quarterfinals on the second match day when they take on Grand Gedeh and Lofa, respectfully.
Group A’s host, Sinoe, was unable to impress their fans on the opening day of the tournament as their football and kickball teams were condemned to defeats. The kickball team bowed to a 1-3 loss to Grand Kru before the football team narrowly allowed a 1-0 defeat.
Wotorson Carr scored the only goal in the 58th minute to help Grand Kru win all three points against Sinoe. Last year’s losing finalist, Maryland, was unable to register a goal on the opening day of the tournament as they were held by River Gee to a goalless draw. At the end of the day, the fans of Maryland still had something to smile about after their kickball team recorded an 8-3 win over River Gee.
The second day of matches in Group A is expected to see more fireworks between Grand Kru, which will need a win to stand a chance of reaching the quarterfinals, and Maryland, which will be looking for their first win. Host Sinoe, with no point, will be in search of win against River Gee that managed a win in their first game.
Defending football champions Montserrado were unable to score a goal in Group C as they were held to a goalless draw against 2012 champions, Margibi. The football match ended goalless but the people of Margibi had something to smile about with their girls collecting a 6-0 victory over Montserrado.
It was a dream start for Group C’s host, Grand Bassa, whose football team collected an important three-point in their first game. Togar Goffa scored the only goal for the Gbehzohn Boys to hand them a winning start.
In the second round of matches, River Cess and Montserrado will be in search of their first win when they meet while Grand Bassa will be hoping to grab a win against Margibi to book a place in the quarterfinals.
Grand Cape Mount’s football and kickball teams took a giant step towards the quarterfinals with victories on the first day of the competition. It all began with the kickball team picking up a 5-2 win over Gbarpolu before the football team wrapped the day up with a 2-0 win.
Edwin Davis and Prince Nagbo scored the goals for Cape Mount at the Momoh Taweh Sports Pitch to hand Cape Mount a winning start and a leg in the quarterfinals. A win against Bomi on Tuesday will be enough to seal Cape Mount’s place in the quarterfinals.
Featured photo by T. Kla Wesley Jr.
