And How River Gee Captured Its First Every National County Meet Football Championship
By Jerome C. Willie, Jr., boyzwill26@gmail.com
Photos Credit:
Albert M. Fania
The Cestos Girls of Rivercess County crowned champions over the weekend without conceding a defeat in the just-ended most prestigious sporting festival the National County Sports Meet.
As they were doing so, River Gee County, one of the youngest of Liberia’s 15 counties, over the weekend captured its first ever County Meet football trophy at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Monrovia’s Paynesville suburb by beating Lofa County in post-match penalties.
In the kickball category, Rivercess County earlier beat Bomi County 6-1 on 1 May at the SKD Sports Complex in Paynesville the Cestos, the girls of River Cess County defeated the Mt. Nimba Girls of Nimba County through penalty shootouts on Sunday, 5 May at the SKD Sports Complex in Paynesville.
Rivercess County became victorious in the competition through penalty shootouts against Nimba County after a full-time one-all-draw including the 30 minutes of extra time with either county getting on the score sheet to produce a homerun.
Cecelia Aquay broke the deadlock in the match in the 6th inning to give River Cess County a 1-0 lead against Nimba County after a homeless first half.
With just one inning left in the match, Mt. Nimba’s Satta Fahnbulleh got the equalizer in Nimba County final or 7th inning to play to a one-all-draw in the regular time.
With an extra inning to decide the winner both counties failed to get a single home run, with Rivercess County defeating Nimba County in penalties shootout, which saw a player for River Cess County hitting thrid base during the penalty shootouts with Nimba County not get player on the third base.
The Rivercess County against Nimba County in the grand final on Sunday, 5 May marked the fourth championship since the introduction of Liberia’s most traditional sports kickball in the National County Sports Meet in.
Riverces County is on record of becoming the only County in the kickball version to clinch the championship three (3) times in a row which include (2005-2006, 2006-2007 & 2007-2008).
The 2023-2024 Champions Rivercess’ last time playing in a grandfinal of the competition was in 2021-2022 at the same venue which saw Lofa County defeating Rivercess County.
Rivercess County road to the grand final of the competition came with a win7-0 win against Grand Kru County inSannniquelle, Nimba County.
In game two and game three of Group C Rivercess County played to a goalless draw against Bong County and host, Nimba County to gain a runner-up spot in Group C of the kickball version.
In the knockout stage 27, April Rivercess defeated River Gee County 6-0 to advance to the semifinals.
In the semifinals the Cestos Girls of River Cess County defeated the Blue Lake Girls of Bomi County 6-1 on 1 May at the SKD Sports Complex in Payenesville to book a ride to the 2023-2024 Kickball version of the National County Sports Meet.
Presenting a symbolic cheque of LD$500,000.00 was presented to River Cess County as 1st winner while on the other hand a symbolic cheque of LD$400,000.00 was presented to the second place winner Nimba County.
In another development, at the closing ceremony on Sunday, 5 May of the grand final several individuals walk away with an individual award.
Here are the full names of the winners of the individual awards:
° 2nd Place
Nimba County
MVP & Highest Home Runner
Cecelia Aquay ( Rivercess County)
Best Pitcher
Princess Kortuyah (Rivercess)
Best Coach
Anthony Jambah (Rivercess County)
Fair Play Team
River Gee County