GANTA, Nimba – The steering committee of the Nimba County Sports Association has expressed disappointment about the absence of some of the players in the first trial session for the county meet team. These players were selected following the just ended district league in Ganta.

Speaking to reporters following the first day of the exercise at the Ganta sports field, Sam G. Ta-Krua, Financial Secretary of the committee, outlined his frustration over the first day’s turnout.

“I am disappointed over the turnout, in that, I expected to see all of the players present here today, especially looking at today to be the first day of the training and justification processes,” he said.

Also expressing his dissatisfaction was the newly appointed chairman of the Nimba County Team Steering Committee, Prince Howard, who told reporters that he did not expect to see such a poor turnout at the first day of training exercises.

“I expected all of the players to be here today, especially the 50 new players that were selected from the just ended district league,” he said. “I am very surprised and disappointed to see such a very poor turn-up, looking at the fact that today is the first day of the justification exercise.”

For his part, the head coach of the team, Muta Fofana, expressed delight over the performance of his boys following the first day of training, but regretted the poor turnout.  “I am very hopeful that those players that are absent today will join us tomorrow or in the days to come,” he said.

The players are expected to train for a little over 30 days. After that, the names of 35 players would be submitted to the Organizing and Technical Committee of the Liberia National County Sports Meet at the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Nimba has won the County Meet title more than five times since the tournament was initiated in 1956. The team’s first title came during their first appearance in the tournament in 1964. Nimba took the title two years in a row in 2010 and 2011, in addition to earning hat-trick title wins in 1977, 1978 and 1979. Grand Bassa is expected to host this year’s county meet finals.

Featured photo by Arrington Ballah