MONROVIA, Montserrado – The fight for the Liberia Football Association league title might come to an end today at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium when league leader LISCR FC takes on the already relegated Invincible Eleven.

The Gardnesville-based club needs just two points from their remaining two matches to clinch the title. They moved at the top of the log early in August after complaints they filed against FC Fassell that saw the former league toppers dropped to fifth place. The Soccer Missionaries had 12 points deducted for fielding ineligible players in four of their previous matches.

Now, with two games to end the league season, the Shipping Boys will have the opportunity to end the hopes of their fellow contestants with a win over IE. A win will see LISCR extend its tally to 43 points from 21 games. The 43 points will eventually make them champions, ending the hopes of a close contender, Barrack Young Controllers Football Club, which is seated second with 38 points from 21 games. A win for BYC in their final game of the league will earn them 42 points, one less than 43.

Beating IE will also keep alive LISCR’s hopes of winning double titles this season. They reached the final of the FA Cup midweek after an impressive 3-0 win over Keitrace FC in the second leg of the semifinals. Having lost the first leg 3-2, they advanced to the final with a 5-3 aggregate win.

LISCR last won the league title in 2011 and 2012, under the guidance of former Liberia national team head coach Gabriel Johns. Topping the league and the FA Cup this season will be the first in history for LISCR.

Their head coach Tapha Manneh believes his team is ready for the challenge. He told The Bush Chicken that the team has been working hard since the start of the league and winning the double trophy shouldn’t come as a surprise.

He described Saturday’s game as “the most difficult game for so far this league season.”

“It is crucial because it is the match that will give us the title,” he said. Some may be hoping for us to lose, but I’m confident of my boys ending the job tomorrow. We have two cups to fight for and we are going for all two. We are already in the final of the FA Cup. We’ve passed that level and it is about the league now. We are going for a win and will get a win. We have worked so hard this season and winning the two titles shouldn’t be surprised to anyone.”

IE may have already gotten relegated, but they have shown they can still get some first division points before saying goodbye at the end of the season. The bottom-dwelling club pulled out a surprise 2-0 win over FC Fassell in their last match.

Photo Courtesy of T. Kla Wesley Jr.