By Jerome C. Willie, boyzwill26@gmail.com
The George Weah Technical Center in Careysburg outside Monrovia on 9 October staged the 2021-2022 edition of the Liberia Old-timers National Association (LONA) Knockout Championship, with interesting fixtures.
At this football slaughterhouse, six teams rubbed shoulders in some exciting matches.
In game one, reigning champions, Alpha Old-timer booked the space for the semifinals of the tournament.
Peter Diggs gave the defending champions Alpha Old-timer an early 1-0 lead over Veteran Old-timers, but with minutes left before the end of the first half Veteran Old-timers got an equalizer, with halftime ending 1-1.
As the second half resume with eagerness for Coach Jeror Cole Bangalu in a quest to defend his title the home team Alpha Old-timers got total controlled of the midfield from good coordination and communication from the midfield that saw the back four of Veteran Old-timers composing well. But the Veterans couldn’t stop the reigning champions from getting on the score sheet with Molton Kennedy getting on the score sheet to double lead and putting the home team ahead for the second time in a row.
Molton Kennedy’s goal in the second half secured a narrow 2-1 win for Alpha Old-timer over Veteran Old-timer. The win for the defending champions Alpha Old-timer booked the team a ticket for the semifinals stage of the tournament.
In other results NPA Anchors Old-timer dragged Duport Road Old-timers 4-1 in game two while in the day final showpiece BOTFA Old-timer won a narrow 1-0 win over Central Monrovia Old-timer.
Alpha, NPA and BOTFA Old-timers join Bassa Old-timers to the semifinals stage of the competition.
Bassa Old-timers got the ticket to the semifinals.
The Semifinals of the Liberia Old-timers National Association (LONA) Knockout Championship is scheduled for November 13, 2022, while the grand finals and closing is schedule for 18 December, with the venue yet to disclosed but will be announced before such activities.
This year’s edition kicked off in June with over 30 teams involved. into it. Alpha Old-timer is the defending champions for such competition.
The Knockout Competition of the Liberia Old-timers National Association (LONA) is the 2nd most prestigious trophy follows by the National Championship and Super Cup.