PHOTO: Winning team Bong County
By Jerome C. willie Jr, boyzwill26@gmail.com
The 2nd edition of the much talked-about Mini Mock National County Sports Meet came to a climax over the weekend at the theater football house in the Lower belt of Margibi County at the Unification Sports Pitch in Smell No Taste.
Margibi team
It was another way of celebrating Liberia’s Independence Day celebration through sports for the people of Margibi County.
The nearly two-month-long tournament kicked off in May with all fifteen counties paired in a group of four and few failing not to honour the planned match (matches).
The euphoria was high, as thousands of spectators from and around Margibi County turned out in numbers including Excutive Committee Member of the Liberia Football Association, Tony Margibi Deinuka who graced the occasion on Tuesday, July 26, 2022.
Thomas Blessing, Most Valuable Player (MVP)
The grand-final saw the Kpatawee Boys of Bong County battling the Gibi Boys of Margibi County.
It was a scene of Upper and Lower clashing, ending up in a showpiece that saw majority of the players from Bong County with the likes of Emmanuel Logan, Fredrick Garway, Lawrence Taylor, Alvin Polo, Lawrence Quaye, Osuame Kamara,Thomas Blessing,Emmanuel Karblee, among others.
While on the other hand, Margibi County paraded players from the Upper end with the like Marvin Tumbay,Chris Harmon, Gana Moore, Emmanuel Pewee, Kollie Jallah, Peter Tokpahzee, Rufus Moses among others.
In game one, Montserrado County forfeited points to Rivercess County in the third-place final.
And in the day’s final action, it was the tournament’s two favorite teams who failed to concede a defeat during the preliminary rounds and knockout stage of the tournament on the field of play.
Africa Sports Academy striker Govego Jallah gives Margibi County an early lead in the 20th minute of the first half to put the Gibi Boys ahead over the Kpatawee Boys of Bong County. But with just six minutes to go, Momo Blamo increased the score from a blunder of Bong County defender Alvin Polo to give Margibi County a 2-0 first half lead over Bong County with defender Alivin Polo of Bong County been substituted in the first half.
Highest goal scorer, Momo Blamo displaying his highest goal scorer certificate
As the second half resumed with much more enthusiasm from the home fans of the Kpatawee Boys of Bong County, the midfield of Bong County coordinated well with several chances missed by the Kpatawee Boys from good goalkeeping by James Morris of Margibi County.
With still 30 minutes plus added time to end the match, the back four of Margibi County could not hold on to the pressure from Bong County, after the introduction of Tony FC player Ezekiel Tamba into the match that saw the entire defense of Margibi County very busy. Emmanuel Logan of Bong County got a goal in the 78th minute to reduce the score to 2-1, thus giving the spectators hope for a comeback. But with eagerness and much anxiety from the players of Bong County, Emmanuel Karblee scored from a terrific strike to get an equalizer for the Kpatawee Boys of Bong County to level the score 2 -2.
It was Emmanuel Karblee’s beautiful goal from 39-yard range that beat goalkeeper James Morris in the 88th minute, dashing the hopes of Margibi County with both team playing to a 2-out draw at full time.
Bong County won the championship in penalty shootouts after Margibi County missed three penalties. The like of Emmanuel Pewee, Momo Blamo and Emanuel Saye miss from the penalty spot.
The Kpatawee Boys of Bong County topped a group comprising Rivercess, Gbarpolu and RiverGee Counties during the preliminary round.
Bong County played Rivercess County to a goalless draw in the opening fixture and got three points in the second fixture, after River Gee County failed to show up while I the final fixture in the group stage won a comfortable 3-0 win over Gbarpolu County.
The Kpatawee Boys of Bong County won a narrow 1-0 win over Nimba County in the quarterfinal and pinned Rivercess County 1-0 in the semifinals in a controversial win.
It was Bong County first time to for an opponent team to hit the net while it was Margibi County first time too for an opponent team to hit the net.
The Kpatawee Boys of Bong County won the championship with a 4-1 win in penalties shootout over Margibi County after full time ended 2-out.
Bong County was awarded a gigantic trophy, medals and a cash prize of LD$100,000.00 as winner while Margibi County walks away with a trophy, medals and a cash prize of LD$50,000.00 as runner-up with Rivercess County receiving LD$20,000.00 as third-place winner.
Executive Committee Memebe Tony Margibi Deinuka presented the trophies medals along with cash prizes to all of the winners.
This year tournament was held by the The Youth Sports Promoter of Margibi county, an organization based in Lower Margibi County.
The theme for tournament was ” Keeping Our Players from the LFA League Active”.
It was played in honor of two eminent sons of Liberia in persons of Mustapha Raji, LFA boss and Atty. Saah R.Gbollie a Senatorial hopeful of Margibi County comes 2023.
In another development, several individuals walk away with award:
Those winner includes: Thomas Blessing alias ” Alcartara ” of New Horizon Football Academy representing Bong County, Most Valuable (MVP), Momo Blamo of FC Quincy representing Margibi County, Highest goal scorer with 5 goals, James Gbah of Sandi Football Club representing Rivercess County Best Defender,James Morris Africa Sports Academy representing Margibi County as Best Goalkeeper and Wallman Gonavator of Mighty Blue Angels, representing Margibi County clinching the Best Coach Award.