MONROVIA, Montserrado – The 2019-20 National County Sports Meet officially came to an end on Thursday, January 30, with the presentation of trophies and individual awards.
At the ceremony, which took place at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium in Monrovia, trophies, medals, and symbolic checks were awarded to teams finishing first, second, and third in the football and kickball categories.
As champions of the football edition, Grand Kru walked away with a giant trophy and a cash prize of L$250,000 (US$1,282) while second-placed Nimba got a cash prize of L$200,000 (US$1,025). Maryland’s football team, which finished third, walked away with L$100,000 (US$513).
In kickball, Margibi celebrated with their champions trophy and a cash prize of L$200,000 (US$1,025) while second-placed Grand Bassa walked away with L$150,000 (US$769) and Lofa took the third-place prize of L$100,000 (US$513).
In individual awards, Grand Kru’s skipper Rufus Kennedy got the elephant share after winning two. Kennedy finished as the tournament’s top scorer and was named the most valuable player while Lofa’s youngster Hope Jarbah clinched the tournament’s best young player award. Maryland finished third, but goalkeeper Cassius Allison’s hard work in goal didn’t go unnoticed as he was named the best goalkeeper, while Pascal Harris of Nimba won the tournament’s best defender award.
Grand Kru’s Rufus Kennedy celebrates after winning the County Meet MVP and top scorer awards. Photo: T. Kla Wesley Jr.
Following the presentation of trophies and awards, an exhibition match was played between Grand Kru and an all-star team from the 1996 and 2002 Lone Star Africa Cup of Nations squad, with President George Weah leading the all-star team against the newly crowned champions.
The former FIFA World Player of the Year showed to hundreds of fans that he still got the talent despite his age. He scored a screamer from 45 yards to help of nations all-star this team get a 3-2 win. Former Liberian internationals Isaac Tono and James Koko Lomell got the other two goals that sank Grand Kru.
In a post-match interview, President Weah condemned Nimba’s actions in the final. He said Nimba may have felt frustrated for conceding two penalties but should have respected the decision of the match officials and continued to play, as they themselves were awarded penalties against Gbarpolu in the quarterfinals. He, therefore, called on teams to respect the decisions of match officials in games.
The County Meet football final between Grand Kru and Nimba came to an end in the 50th minute after Grand Kru was awarded their second penalty. In protest of referee Hassan Corneh’s call, the Nimba team walked off the pitch and never returned as the game ended in deadlock.
The team was later fined U.S. $1,500 by the Ministry of Youth and Sports while their head coach, Muctarr Fofana and team manager, Musa Kromah were given two years suspension each from all sporting activities.
Featured photo by T. Wesley Jr.
