By Trokon Korries Karnga in Buchanan, Liberia
Liberia’s biggest sporting event, the 23rd National County Sports Meet got off at the weekend with the main official ceremony held in the central city of Gbarnga, Bong County.
Other matches kicked off in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County on Saturday and other parts of the country.
Grand Bassa County went against Rivercess County at the Doris Williams Stadium in the Port City of Buchanan.
During the match, Grand Bassa County which fought a brave soccer battle with Rivercess County, won her sister county 1 goal to zero.
After lots of chances in the first half of the 90 minutes game, Grand Bassa had means of scoring but did not make use of those chances; until when additional time was added in the dying minutes of the game and spectators were seen on their feet chanting for a goal.
It was during that time of their chanting, when Togar Goffa wearing the 13 jersey got the one goal from a headed right close range from a 20 yard shot right in the corner of the net that left the goal keeper of Rivercess in a Skeleton Position. That goal silences the argument between the fans of the both counties.
According to football analysts, Bassa can qualify if only they smash Margibi in the next match slated for Tuesday, April 3, 2018 at the Doris Williams Stadium in Buchanan.
In kickball, the score line was the opposite with Rivercess County. Defending host Grand Bassa County was defeated by Rivercess 1-0 home-run in a tight match.
At the same time, defending football champion, Montserrado County began the defense of their crown with a frustrating 0-0 draw against Margibi County in Kakata City.
There were lots of tensions amongst technical staffers of both teams, with Montserrado County technical staff complaining of poor officiating by referees, Sports Analysts say.
Montserrado County in Kickball suffered a 6-1 humiliation at the hands of Margibi County, one of the favorites for the kickball title.
Nimba County won both in Kickball and football games over Grand Gedeh County in Gbarnga, Bong County.
Nimba, which is a defending kickball champion, began their title defense with a 6-0 easy win over Grand Gedeh County, with Benetta Paygar scoring 2-home-runs.
In football, despite been dominated by Grand Gedeh County, Nimba County managed a 1-0 win over their rivals in game two in Group A.
Grand Gedeh County’s dominance in that match generated to nothing as several goals meeting chances were wasted by the forwards.
Pressure against Nimba reduced when Grand Gedeh coach Thomas Brownell, surprised spectators when he substituted the most dangerous man on the pitch Frank Bley who was a threat to Nimba County in 65 minutes of the game.
Both Nimba and Grand Gedeh Counties played the second half of the match with just ten men; it was not due to red card or injuries, but superstition where Nimba believed that Grand Gedeh was attempting to engage in juju by keeping a man off the pitch.
The second half of that match was delayed for about five minutes, as the two teams did not want to be the first to get all of their players on the field.
Grand Gedeh got 10 men on the field first, before Nimba got their 10 men on the pitch.
In the first match at the David Kuyon Sports Stadium, Bong County whipped Lofa County 2-1 in a poor encounter.
In Kickball, Lofa defeated Bong County 6-3 home-run.
Group Three hosts Grand Cape Mount County which stole the show over visiting Gbarpolu County, winning their neighbors 5-2 in Kickball and 2-0 in football.
There were shocking results for Group Four hosts, Sinoe county as they suffered double defeats on the opening day of the 2017/18 National County Sports Meet.
Sinoe was beaten 3-1 home-run in Kickball and 1-0 in football by Grand Kru County.
Meanwhile, the games will continue Tuesday with more matches.
Grand Gedeh will face Bong County and Lofa vs Grand Gedeh County in Group One.
Montserrado County will chase Rivercess County, while Margibi and Grand Bassa challenge each other in Group Two.
Bomi will chase host Grand Cape Mount County that needs just a draw to book a place in the second round in football.
Grand Kru will qualify if they take all three points against Maryland in Group four first matches, before River Gee chases host Sinoe County in the last match.
In a related development, President George Weah wants the County Sports Meet to be used by Liberians for a true reconciliation among themselves.
President Weah, speaking at program marking the formal opening of the competition in Monrovia said, as he and other former players used football to preach peace for Liberia, the county sports meet should gather people around the table to discuss disputes that may arise in the communities.
The Chief Patron of Sports alongside the Vice President Madam Taylor, the First Lady and top government officials took the kick off to the 2017/18 event; promising to be at the grand final in Paynesville later this month.