PAYNESVILLE, Montserrado – The nation’s biggest sporting event, the National County Sports Meet, has reached its most exciting phase, with fans turning out in their numbers at the renovated Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex to watch their beloved counties battling in the quarterfinals for semifinals spots.
April 14 held the first quarterfinal games and Nimba’s kickball team became the first team to reach the semifinals after defeating Bomi. The Mountaineer girls brushed aside Rep. Edwin Snowe’s girls with a 3-0 victory.
Following Nimba’s victory to go through to the semifinals, Grand Cape Mount’s kickball team made no mistake in missing out a pace in the semifinals as they went on to beat Lofa. The Cape Mountainian female side defeated their counterparts 2-0 to progress to the semifinals.
The female show was over and the most anticipated battle, which is the football category, began between high-flying Nimba and Grand Cape Mount. Cape Mount’s disappointment continued from the second group stage game while Nimba continued their fine form.
In a match which Cape Mount had the lion’s share of the possession due to their short passing, Nimba came out as winner with a single goal separating the two at the end of the 90 minutes. Pee Wah, who also plays for third division side Young Boys United Football Club, scored the only goal to send Nimba through. Wah headed in a long cross in the 41st minute to sink Cape Mount and send them out of the tournament.
Unlike the first match where there was competition between the two teams, despite Nimba winning, the second quarterfinal match was fun for the 2008 football champions, Bong. The vice president of the Republic of Liberia, Jewel Howard-Taylor, must have enjoyed watching her county smash Bomi 5-0 to reach the semifinals.
It was also a good day in office for former BYC coach, Cooper Sannah, who marked his return to the County Meet after two years with BYC FC, where won the first division league. A stunning hat-trick from Nathaniel Tokpah and a goal each from Kulah Gorloryorn and Israel Halli were enough to send Bomi out of the competition.
A huge turnout at the SKD Sports Complex. Photo: T. Kla Wesley, Jr.
The turnout at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex on the opening day of the quarterfinals stage showed that the fans had been yearning to watch football at the stadium. Moreover, the first County Meet under the new administration appeared a little more organized and aimed at reaching more audience. Not only were the games broadcast live on radio stations, KMTV also carried live video streams on Facebook.
Featured photo by T. Kla Wesley Jr.
