By Jerome C. Willie, Jr., boyzwill26@gmail.com
MARGIBI, Liberia- It was a remarkable day for Ayounda KC over the weekend in Kakata, Margibi County, as the club clinched a first major trophy since its establishment or participation in the Liberia Kickball Federation-Margibi County Sub-Association.
Over the weekend the 2021-2022 Knockout Championship of the LKF-Margibi County Sub-Association got underway on Saturday, 3 September and came to an end on Sunday, 4 September to climax the 2021-2022 league season of the LKF-Margibi County.
The tournament witnessed clubs fighting for a trophy to climax the 2021-2022 league season with interesting fixtures.
In game one on Saturday, 3 September at the 14th Road Sports Pitch in Kakata, Margibi County it was an interesting showpiece as Quincy KC and YSSCI 2PM played to a 3-out draw during full time, with Quincy KC winning the match in penalties shootout.
Princess Reeves gave Quincy KC a 1-0 lead during the first inning after YSSCI KC failed to bring a single home run but with just 2 innings left to end the first half Zanpea T. Konwea equalized for the YSSCI KC with both teams playing to a 1-out draw at halftime.
As second half kickoff Quincy extended the lead in the lead in the fourth inning with Rachel Griffin and Naomie M. Yeene given the team another homes run to make it 3 homes run to 1 over YSSCI but Zanpea T. Konwea and Nacy D. Call levelled the score to 3-out with full time ending in a 3-out draw as Quincy KC advances to the semifinals with a win from the penalties spot.
In game two it was another showpiece with classical kickball displayed between two tough clubs Ayounda KC and Zion Sisters KC.
Ayounda Kickball Club won a convincing 2 homes run to 0 over Zion Sisters KC. The defeat to Zion Sisters KC dash the hope for a silverware this season while the win for Ayounda Kickball Club gives the club a bit hope of having something to boost of this season.
And in other fixtures, Vision Sisters KC along with Future Girls KC fail to show up for the game as Destiny Sisters KC and Destiny Girls KC advance to the semifinals of the tournament.
The Bong Road outfit club Vision Sisters forfeited points to the Kpatawee Girls of Bong County Destiny Sisters while the Weela based outfit club Future Girls forfeited points to the Kakata based outfit club Destiny Girls.
The win for Quincy KC, Ayounda KC, Destiny Sisters KC and Destiny Girls KC in the opening fixture moves the club to the semifinals of the tournament which played on Sunday, 4 September involving four clubs.
Winner One Quincy KC rubs shoulder with Winner three Destiny Sisters KC In the first semifinal game while Winner Two Ayounda KC battles Winner four Destiny Girls KC in the second game of the semifinals.
In the first fixture Quincy KC summersault to Destiny Sisters KC at the 14th Road Sports Pitch.
The Kpatawee Girls of Bong County Destiny Sisters KC won a comfortable 4 homes run to 2 over the Gibi Girls of Margibi County Quincy KC to advance to the grand final of the tournament.
And in game two it was two nearest neighbors Ayounda KC fighting Destiny Girls KC.The game was refered to my sports lovers of the beautiful game as the final due to the history between the two clubs.
Ayounda KC ended the league at 2nd place while Destiny Girls KC won the league for the second time in a row.
Umpire Emmanuel Wolofa stood in the center circle of such interesting fixture as he performed excencellenty.
Sinnah Mulbah gave Ayounda KC a lead after the defending champions Destiny Girls KC failed to get a home run during the first two innings but just to end the first half with Ayounda KC failing to bring a home during the third inning Ghandia Tarnue strikes during the third inning brought Karina L. Maye home with halftime ending in a 1-1 draw.
Back from the break
Back from the break as the enthusiasm and euphoria grow with both teams playing good kickball display that saw speactators cheering the respective team both teams failed to get a single home run during the 2nd half of the game due to good defending from both clubs with full time ending in a 1-out draw but Ayounda KC won the match in penalties shootout after both teams couldn’t bring a home run during the extra time of the game.
The Bong County captain Sianneh Mulbah who just return from suspension due to indiscipline act after an appeal was very much influential in her team advancing to the grand final of the knockout championship as she was able to hit first base during the penalty shootouts.
The win marks the second for Ayounda KC over the former Champions of the knockout Championship of the 2021-2022 league season. In total both teams played three games with Ayounda KC winning two (2).
A win during full time and a win on penalties shootout in each of the competition under the watchful eyes of the SubAssociation.
It can be recalled that during the just ended league season Ayounda KC ended Champions Destiny Girls KC unbeaten run at the opened-air Nancy B. Doe Sports Stadium in Kakata, Margibi County but fialed to win the league with Destiny Girls KC winning back-to-back championship and becoming the first club from the Upper end to win back-to-back championship.
In the grand final, it was a reminder of the league final fixture with Destiny Sisters KC clashing with Ayounda KC
It was a game of revenge for the upper Margibi County outfit club Ayounda KC as the club was deprived of the league championship by the Kpatawee Girls of Bong County Destiny Sisters KC.
It can be recalled that the Kpatawee Girls of Bong County Destiny Sisters KC denied Ayounda KC the first ever championship as Ayounda KC suffers a defeat in the last game fixture to Destiny Sisters KC at the David Kuyion Sports Stadium in Gbarnga, Bong County on 31 August it game that Ayounda KC will forever remember in the club history.
Ayounda KC thrashed Destiny Sisters KC 5 homes run to 1 to win the knock-out championship with the club breaking it major trophy droughts.
The win for Ayounda KC gives the club the first major trophy since its establishment in the LKF-Margibi County SubAssociation.
The winner and runner-up of the 2021-2022 Knockout Championship will be crowned during the official closing ceremony of the 2021-2022 league season at a date to be announced next month.
In total under the watchful eyes of Coach Jerry Kennedy as Technical Director the club won three trophies.
Ayounda KC won the 2020-2021 Jamboree under the auspices of the SubAssociation before the start of the league where the club won Angel Nets Foundation 5 homes run to 2 at the 14th Road Sports Pitch in Kakata and an off-season tournament under the sponsorship of Margibi County Senator the Hon.James Emmanuel Nuquay where the Ayounda KC dragged Quincy KC 6 homes run to 3 to win the tournament at the opened-air Nancy B.Doe Sports Stadium in Kakata, Margibi County.
It is not clear that the league champions Destiny Girls KC, Knockout Champions Ayounda KC along third-place Zion Sisters KC will represent Margibi County in the League Two National Championship and Promotional Playoff 2022 schedule for 24 September in Kakata, Margibi County.
This year League Two National Championship and Promotional Playoff will host 20 clubs from 4 counties which include host Margibi , Grand Bassa, Grand Gedeh and Montserrado Counties.
This year’s edition marks the 2nd with the first be held in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County where Kamara KC of Montserrado County won the championship. It runs from 24 September to 2 October 2022.