PHOTO; Margibi County squad
By Jerome C. Willie, Jr., boyzwill26@gmail.com
Cell #: (+231)886-406-197/ (+231) 776-084-828
As domestic league football climaxed across the country, football actions continue to thrill soccer lovers at the Unification Sports Pitch in Lower Margibi County, east of the Liberian capital, Monrovia.
These encounters are continuing to draw huge turnout to see one of the most watched tournaments at the football slaughter house of the Lower End.
Well, the month-long Mini Mock National County Sports Meet continued over the weekend with exciting and entertaining results. Final rounds of matches were played in the group stage of the tournament, which include all of the 15 counties pairing in a group of four with only Group D.
The Mini Mock National County Sports Meet kicked off on 21 May at the opened-air Smell No Taste Pitch in Unification Town, Lower Margibi County.
The Youth Sports Promoter of Margibi County is the proud sponsor of the tournament.
This year’s tournament is played under the theme: ” Keeping Our Players From The League Active.”
Sports pic Momo Blamo
On Saturday, 18 June in the final game of Group C, Momo Blamo converted a penalty in the 29th minute of the first half to give Margibi County a 1-0 halftime lead over Grand Gedeh.
With still more hope for the Zulu Whiskey’s boys of Grand Gedeh County to clinch a point to advance to the next round of the tournament the Rubber Planter or the Gibi Boys’ of Margibi County got another goal from a beautiful placement from star player Momo Blamo in the 53rd miniute, registering his name on the score sheet in both halves. This has given Margibi County a 2-0 lead over Grand Gedeh County.
And with still much hope from the Zulu Whiskey of Grand Gedeh County after Momo Blamo was substituted in the 65th with no pressure from the attack of Margibi County the boys of Grand Gedeh County created several chances. But it was excellent defending and good goalkeeping from the back four and goalie that sealed a 2-0 win for Margibi County over Grand Gedeh County.
Marvin Tumbay, Emmanuel Pewee, Rufus Moses, and Peter Tokpahzee were outstanding in defense while youngster Morris was stunning in goal for the Rubber Planter or Gibi Boys of Margibi County.
Dinwall Brown
The “Rubber Planters” or “Gibi Boys” first game in the tournament after forfeiting points to Montserrado County in the team’s opening fixture and being awarded three points in the second fixture after Grand Bassa County failed to turned-up for the match while Grand Gedeh drew level with Grand Gedeh and was awarded three points in the second fixture where Grand Bassa County failed to turn up.
The defeat was Grand Gedeh’s first defeat in the tournament while the win was Margibi County first win on the field of play in the tournament.
Margibi County came as runner-up in Group B with 6points while Montserrado County clinched top spot with 7points.
As it stands Margibi County joins Montserrado County to advance to the knockout stage of the tournament.
And still with more thrilling football exhibition Grand Cape Mount County defeated Lofa County 5-2 to progress to the next round of the tournament topping Group C with 6points in the day’s final showpiece.
In other results on Sunday, 19 June Maryland County won Grand Kru 4-2 while while Bomi County forfeited points to Nimba County.
As it stands Margibi County joins Montserrado, Rivercess, Nimba,Grand Cape Mount, Maryland, Bong and Sinoe Counties to the knockout stage of the tournament.
In an exclusive interview with this Reporter, the chief organizer of the tournament Dinwall Briwn over the weekend over said this year ‘s tournament is in honor of two distinct sons of our country namely the president of the Liberia Football Association ( LFA) Mustapha Raji and Atty, Saah Richard Gbollie for their numerous contributions to Sports in Liberia .
Brown emphasized that each of the team paid an amount of three thousand Liberian Dollars (LD 3,000.00) as registration fees.
When quizzed about the cash prizes, he said the total cash prize is One Hundred Seven Thousand Liberian Dollars (170,000.00) as winner walks away with LD 100,000.00 , runner-up pockets LD 50,000.00 while third place earns LD 20,000.00.
The knockout stage resumes on 2 July with the third-place final and Grandfinal scheduled for 26 July 2022.
The quarterfinals draw includes: Bong vs. Nimba , Maryland vs.Rivercess, Montserrado vs. Sinoe ,and Grand Cape Mount County vs.Margibi .
The Youth Sports Promoter of Margibi County is based in Margibi County, especially the lower end and it was established on 12 June 2021 with the aim of developing Youth talents through sports (Football) which also includes to keep the players from the LFA league busy through soccer.
This tournament is staged annually by The Youth Sports Promoter of Margibi County along with African Cup of Nations.