By Jerome C. Willie, Jr. boyzwill26@gmail.com
Local football continues to improve graciously under the administration of Mustapha Raji, Liberia Football Association (LFA) President, including grassroots football.
A one-day Under -13 tournament has got underway in Barnesville Estate at the Barnesville Estate Sports Pitch, involving four academic teams showcasing the soccer talents infront of over 100 spectators at the jammed pack stadium.
Pepper Soccer Academy, Christ United Football Academy, Ambassador Soccer Academy and Dream Football Academy were the teams participating in the soccer tournament. It started recently.
The name of the tournament is called See the Light International Tournament USA hosted by CEO Sylvester Harris.
In the tournament opening fixture Devine Yoewah brace in the 35th minute and 89th minute for Christ United Football Academy (CUFA) secured a narrow 2-1 win over Ambassador Soccer Academy.
Chris United Football Academy player Devine Yoewah was a star to watch with his brilliant two goals at each halves that secured a final slot for his club.
And still will more entertaining football that saw spectators cheering the kids Pepper Soccer Academy won Dream Football Academy 3-2 in penalty shootouts after a both teams played to a 1-out draw.
In the grand final on Saturday,19 June it was a derby game between two nearest rival but it was Christ United Football Academy who came victorious in the grand final of the one day Under -13 knockout tournament.
Both teams couldn’t not find the net in the first due to good defending and good goalkeeping from the back four along with the goalkeeper.
As the second half resume both teams created several chances but couldn’t get on the score sheet in the early minutes of the second but it was Devine Willie assist in the second half to Devine Yoewah in the 78th that Yoewah broke the deadlock to gives Christ United Football Academy a 1-0 lead over Pepper Soccer Academy.
With still much time to played Christ United Football Academy back four was very much compose to denied the attack of Pepper Soccer Academy getting on the score sheet with Christ United Football Academy winning Pepper Soccer Academy 1-0 to clinch the championship.
Yoewah won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and winning the golden boots after netting three goals in two games in the tournament while Devine Willie alias ” Kylean Mbappe crucial assist in the grand final gives him the Man of The Match.
George Willie played full 90th minutes in the grand final and came in as a substitute in his club first game with Ambassador Soccer Academy.
Since joining Christ United Football Academy in 2020-2022 George Willie is the Academy highest assit player and a master class player.
This trophy marks Christ United Football Academy third trophy since the establishment 2019, 19 October.
It can be recalled that Christ United Football Academy participated in the just ended LFA Under-12 grassroots football held at the Tusa Sports Stadium in Gardnerville (Gardnerville Sub-Committee), where the club clinched third place on the league table. The third place position saw Christ Football Academy qualifying for the National LFA Under-12 Playoffs at the ATS in Monrovia.
The Chirst United Football Academy (CUFA)is based in Barnesville Estate with Ediwn H. Sheriff serving as CEO while Nathan N. Teah serves as Academy manager.
Aloysius Steven Janjay Jacobs, Allen Njie Care Foundation, Melpat Foundation along with Jim Care Foundation are all sponsors of the academy.