PHOTO: Squad of Stephen Tolbert Old-timer
By Jerome C. Willie, Jr., boyzwill26@gmail.com
Cell #: (+231)886-406-197/ (+231) 776-084-828
The knockout competition of the Liberia Old-timers National Association (LONA) 2021-2022 league season is underway.
The tournament started during the weekend, with interesting fixtures at three venues across the Country.
It was an interesting showpiece at each of the venue with spectacular football showcased by the twenty-eight (28) teams fighting for survival or supremacy in winning a silverware.
On Sunday, 12 June, day one of the preliminary rounds of the competition, a total of 14 games were played, and the George Weah Technical Center in Careburgs, Montserrado County hosted four of those games.
There was nine (9) goals scored at the Doris Williams Sports Stadium in Buchanan, six ( 6) goals fewer than at both the Nancy B. Doe and George Weah Technical Center in Kakata and Careburgs, Margibi and Montserrado Counties respectively where both recorded fifteen (15) goals each.
Bassa and Thinker Village Old-timers marked the debut in the competition with Bassa Old-timer progressing to the next round of the competition.
At the slaughter house of Margibi County, the opened-air Nancy B.Doe Sports Stadium Janjay Jacobs’ sensational strike plus an assist to Boakai Foday were enough to seal a 2-0 win for Minister Daniel Ziankahn of Lakpazee Old-timer over 72nd Old-timer.
The Lakpazee tailsman minister Ziankahn played a major role for Lakpazee Old-timer in the match but failed to get on the score sheet in the first half but was substituted in the match before the start of the second half with Lakpazee Old-timer winning 2-0 over 72nd Old-timer to advance to the next stage of the competition.
With still more actions it was a goal feast in game two that saw Mitchell Logan and Stene Karbom doubles, Marbue Stephen, Benjamin Lolo and Emmanuel Tarnue goals secured a 7-0 Win for Stephen Tolbert Old-timer over Bong Mines Old-timer; while in game three West Point Old-timer won a 3-1 penalty shootouts over Paynesville Old-timer after full time ending in a 1-out draw.
And still with lots of enthusiasm from the fans of various Old-timer teams Coach Jeror Cole Bangalu of Alpha Old-timer won a comfortable 3-0 win over Bench Old-timer to maintain his unbeaten run in the competition.
Coach Bangalu
Alpha Old-timers with the like of the team talisman and captain Len Eugene Nagbe, Perry Kollie, Kelvin Sebwe, Dionysion Sebwe, Oliver Makor, Ignatius Blamo,Peter Diggs, Meo Beyan among others the defending champions Alpha Old-timer was held to a goalless draw at halftime.
Back from recess after both teams received pep talk from the technical staffs Coach Jeror Cole Bangalu of Alpha Old-timers took an early lead in the second half through Perry Kollie in the 40th minute to give the home team a 1-0 lead over Bench Old-timer.
With much eagerness and taste for more silverware Coach Jeror Cole Bangalu introduced Elijah Thompson in the 52th minute of the match with no time to waste the substitute double the lead to 2-0 to give Alpha Old-timer a hope to advance to the next round.
As the whistle continues the visitors Bench Old-timer puts out lot of pressure but the back four of Alpha Old-timer which include Dionysion Sebwe, Ignatius Blamo,Fedilist Togba and Gabriel Moses couldn’t allow the visitor to get on the score sheet.
With just 18th minutes plus added time left substitute Elijah Thompson scores a very beautiful goal in the 61 minute to increase the score to 3-0 with the defending champions winning a comfortable 3-0 win over Bench Old-timer to seal a ticket to the next round of the competition.
And in the day final showpiece Hanson Doerue lone goal in the early minutes of the first half secured a narrow 1-0 win for host Kakata Old-timer over AMUNUE Old-timer.
In other results of the competition at the George Weah Technical Center in Careburgs, host Genesis Old-timer pinned Duport Road Old-timer 2-1, Chocolate City Old-timer 2-1 New Georgia, Vetrean 4-2 BOSA, BAME 1-2 NPA.
At the Doris Williams Sports Stadium in Buchanan host Bassa Old-timer got a narrow 2-1 win over Sinkor Old-timer, Shoe Factory 0-0 Cowfield (2-4 penalty), BOTFA 2-I INDEPENDENT , Central Monrovia 1- 0 Thinker Village .
The competition will continue in August in the second round.
The total number of 39 goals were recorded from the competition’s opening fixtures.
Alpha Old-timer won the championship with a 2-1 win over Genesis Old-timer on 16 September 2021 at the Tusa Field Sports Stadium in Gardnerville.
It was the Paynesville- based Old-timers Club, Alpha Old-timer second trophy of the 2020-2021 league season of LONA.
The club currently sits at 5th place on the league table of the 2021-2022 Championship of LONA from 10 games played, winning 6, drawing 3 with a single defeat.