As Cash Prizes To Winners And Individual Winners Of The National County Sports Meet
PHOTO: Winners Incorporated delivers on its promise and dishes out millions to NCSM Winners
It was a colourful ceremony at the headquarter’ of Liberia’s Number One Sporting Betting Company, Winners Inc on Broad Street in central Monrovia after the successful ending of the National Sports Meet, with millions of dollars flowing out of this company’s offices to the winners as it promised.
It was on Monday, January 16, 2023, when winners of the kickball, football and basketball versions of the 2022-2023 most watched sporting festival here in Liberia received cash prizes, having won trophies inf the three disciplines–kickball, football and basketball.
The program was in fulfillment of the country’s Number One Sporting Betting Company–Winners Incorporated’s promises made to the organizer of the most watched sporting NCSM festival, the Ministry of Youth & Sports prior to the closing of the tournament.
The program was witnessed by several staffs of Liberia’s Number one betting company Winners Incorporated along with Deputy Minister of Sports, Andy Quamie and Assistant Minister James Toee of the Ministry Of Youth & Sports as well as former National Teams Captain Anthony Snoti Lafford including the various champions of the three disciplines and invidual winners.
It can be recalled that Lofa and Nimba Counties retain the championship in both kickball and football category on Sunday, 15 January at the jammed packed SKD Sports Complex in Paynesville that saw over 65,000 spectators.
Choice Tokpah homes run sealed a 2-0 win for Lofa County in the grand final of the kickball category over Nimba County.
In the men’s category 16-year-old Emmanuel Sieh brace with Marlue Johnson secured a 3-2 win for Nimba County over Lofa County in the football category.
Pascal Harris puts the Wologisi Boys of Lofa County ahead in the 18′ minute of the first half from a beautiful header but with minutes to play 16-year-old Emmanuel Sieh replied for Nimba County in the 34′ minute to level the score from a terrific header in the 18-yard box of Lofa County.
The Liberia Under-17 men’s player Emmanuel Sieh scores a brace in the 44′ minutes to give Nimba County a 2-1 halftime win over Lofa County.
Back from recess Marlue Johnson made it 3-1 for Nimba County over Lofa County with just 10′ minutes into the second half of the match but it was James Tarpeh goal from the penalty spot that gives the Wologisi Boys of Lofa County hopes with he reducing the score to 3-2 but with Lofa County getting an equalizer in the second half which was disallowed by Johnneo Morris after Johnny Ducan flagged his flag for an outside with full time ending in 3-2 in favor of Nimba County over Lofa County.
In the basketball category Sinoe County pinned Montserrado County 66-64 in a tense encounter at the SKD Gymnasium in Paynesville on Saturday, 14 January.
Liberia’s number one Sportings Betting company and online gambling, Winners Incorporated dashes out LD $2-millions (LD $ 2,000,000.00) to winners and individual awards cash prizes to winners of the 2022-2023 edition of the National County Sports Meets.
The National County Sports Meet is Liberia knockout tournament which came to focus in 1956, with Maryland County winning the first edition.
Winners Incorporated Liberia presented cash prizes to players, and the teams as a way of being a helping hand to such prestigious tournament the National County Sports Meet.
Though they were never a prime Sponsor of the Tournament, the giant Sports betting and gambling Company, came lately to form a part of it, as a way of identifying with the Ministry of Youth & Sports as a way of motivation for young players and a way of promoting sports in Liberia.
Speaking during the occasions Garysen Inkome Diah, Public Relations to the Sports Betting Company, told Journalists, during the Ceremony, on Monday, 16, January 2023, at Winners Inc, head office on Broadstreet, Monrovia, Liberia that this gesture came as a way of giving back to the society and one of it he thinks best is through sports most interestingly during the nation’s biggest event the National County Sports Meet.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Winners Incorporated Liberia, Mr. Yacob Batshon, indicated that though they have been here for over decade, but this kind gesture came through the intervention of its PRO Garysen Ikome Diah who saw the need for us to give back.,”We will continue to support sports in the Country, in whatsoever ways they can reach out as way of promoting sports in Liberia,” said Batshon.
Mr. Batshon, was delighted that Winners Inc, came to form part as co-sponsors of the National County Sports Meet, and relinquishes praises on the Tournament of being the most attracted sports event in Liberia, that draws supporters together, and bring citizens in Unity.
“I can recall when Lofa County scored I saw everybody shouting than I say wow but when Nimba County equalized I saw the crown shouting than I said to myself what a beautiful scene this was one of my best moment ever and to admit Liberian has lots of talent,” said CEO Batshon.
According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Winners Inc., Mr. Yacob Batshon, supporting the National County Sports Meet with Cash Prizes, is its way of affirming the government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Youth & Sports (MYS), of promoting Sports in Liberia.
He said because Winners Inc. sees itself as a Partner with the government and people of Liberia and must at all times play a positive role, in whatever endeavor they forsee as interest, especially Sports.
In separate remarks, the Assistant Minister and Co- Chair James Toee expressed gratitude to Winners Incorporated on behlalf of the Ministry of Youth & Sports especially Minister Audrian Smith Forbes who serves as Chairperson for this year’s edition as for the Deputy Minister for Sports, at the Ministry of Youth & Sports, G. Andy Quamie, thanks, Winners Inc, for such calm gesture of cash prizes towards the National County Sports.
“To admit this came as a surprise to the Ministry of Youth & Sports, who were struggling to deliver its commitments of little cash prizes to winners of every category of this year County Sports Meet days before the grand finals. But when I received the call from Garysen Inkome Diah that Winners Incorporated want to be a part than I said why not so we are indeed grateful to Winners Inc,” said Minister Quamie.
At the same time Minister Quamie, acknowledged, ArcelorMittal Limited of being a Prime Sponsor of the event, but appreciated Winners Incorporated for their wonderful impact, despite incoming in late to support the event.
We at the Ministry of Youth & Sports, looking forward to partnering with Winners Incorporated the proper way, to support next edition of the County Sports Meet so let’s start the planning early July said Minister Quamie.
The Deputy Minister for Youth & Sports, Mr.Quamie, used the occasion to encourage, young players, participating in the Tournament, to strives and do more, and not to be satisfied of the award and cash given to them but to strive harder to achieve what they love best and make Liberia proud.
Also speaking during the program was Former Liberia’s Lone Star Captain and LISCR FC player Anthony Snoti Lafford, who featured for several clubs in South Africa such as Chippa United FC, Mamelodi Sundown where he won several domestic league, including the knockout cup expressed joy of the National County Sports Meet and thanked Winners Incorporated for such intiative especially by giving back to this unique tournament.
Lafford mentioned that young players, now should be doing more than their best, not to limit themselves to just the County Sports Meet, because they have all the talents and skills to reach to the top, and make Liberia proud, he urged them to believe in themselves, that they can reach to the top levels in Football around the World but most of remember that disciplines should be the hallmark of their journey.
The National County Sports Meet is an annual knockout tournament that is played among the 15 counties. This year’s edition officially kickoff on 17 December in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County as official host along Bong, Lofa and Maryland Counties hosting the preliminary rounds of the tournament.
The 2022-2023 edition of the National County Sports Meet played under the theme ” Liberia, A Nation Celebrating 200 Years of Existence- Maintaining The Peace Through Women’s Sports Participation “.
Meanwhile, Lofa County clinched the championship for the second time in the kickball category and pockets LD $ LD 500,000,00 with Winners Incorporated providing LD $ 300,000.00 of such amount while Nimba County took home LD $ 1,000,000.00 million from Winners Incorporated as winner for the football category.
At the same time, the Most Valuable Players (MVP) in the various categories was rewarded LD $ 100,000,00 in all with 16-year-old Emmanuel Sieh (Nimba County) pocketing LD $ 50,000.00 in the men’s Category, Vero Francis (Lofa County) of and Carlos Marshall ( Sinoe County) of the kickball and basketball category, pocketing LD $ 25,000.00 each from Winners Incorporated totalling to LD $ 50,000.00.
In the football category of the individuals awards top Scorer, James Messi Tarpeh of Lofa County, best defender Nelson Larmine (Nimba County), best goalkeeper Eric Tiawon( Nimba County) , best young player of the tournament Delton Kollie ( Rivercess ) and best coach Mouctarr Fofana (Nimba County) walk away with LD $ 25,000.00 each from Winners Incorporated
In the kickball category Ezekiel Doekpa, Best Coach from Lofa County, Alane Koffa of Nimba County, the best kickball pitcher all collected the cash prizes of 25, 000 each from Winners Incorporated.
And in Basketball Thomas Katiah pockets LD $ 50,000.00, LD $ 25,000.00 each as Best Point Guard and Highest Pointer, Bryant Nagbe – Best Coach LD $ 25,000.00, John Williams – Highest Three Pointers – LD $ 25,000.00 and Hadrian Sebwe – Best Rebounder LD $ 25,000.00
Winners Incorporated is a Licensed Sporting Betting Company in Liberia and remains the biggest and number one online gambling betting company in Liberia.
Since it came to be for a decade or over a decade it has employed over 7,000 persons with it branches in almost of all the 15 counties in Liberia.