By Jerome C. Willie, Jr. boyzwill26@gmail.com
FIFA-Badged Referee Emmanuel Mensah is in charge of the Orange Cup 2023 Men’s final between Watanga FC and LISCR FC at the ATS on the UN Drive in Monrovia.
The kickoff time of that competition was 7PM at the ATS on the UN Drive on Sunday, 30 April 2023.
Though Mensah has been splendid and phenomenal during the season but he came to the spotlight in an Orange Cup fixture between Invincible Eleven and Nimba Kwado at the ATS on 23 March of the Quarterfinal stage where he interfered into a play that resulted to a goal but refused to restart at which time Invincible Eleven got on the scoresheet to take a 1-0 lead over Nimba Kwado FC.
Such a goal was disallowed after consultation from FIFA-BADGED Female Assistant Referee Hannah Moses who was serving as AR- 1 in such game that saw many spectators questioning his ability.
However, the Sunshine Boys of Invincible Eleven got a narrow 1-0 win over Nimba Kwado FC from the penalty spot to advance to the semifinals of the competition.
He is the first-ever FIFA-BADGED Referee to officiate such final which marks the first edition of the Orange Cup and the end of the 2022-2023 League Season on the domestic scene.
Mensah to referee an Orange Cup final and he is being assisted by compatriots Ephraim Grant and Tracy Chayee as AR-1 and AR-2 while on the other hand elite referee Moses Johnson serves as 4th official.
Mensah has already taken charge of both Watanga FC and LISCR FC in the just ended Orange National League-1st Division 2022-2023 league season.
He had the whistle at the SKD PP in Paynesville on 2 April involving a match between Heaven Eleven and Watanga FC while on 9 April at the Tusa Field Sports Stadium in Gardnerville a fixture between League Champions LISCR FC and Invincible Eleven.
Mensah who is the youngest FIFA-BADGED Male Referee was fully involved in several matches in the month of October 2022 where he officiated several crucial fixtures which involved Cece United and Heaven Eleven at the ATS on the UN Drive on 20 October among others.
Mensah played over 7 matches in the top-tier league, the Orange National League-1st Division 2022-2023 League Season mainly at four venues across the Country which include the ATS, SKD PP, Tusa Field and the opened-air Nancy B.Doe Sports Stadium in Kakata, Margibi County.
His final match in the Orange National League-1st Division 2022-2023 league season was on 22 April at the ATS in a crucial fixture involving relegated team Jubilee FC and Mighty Barrolle at which time Jubilee FC needed a must win but was defeated by the Kanyan Pepper Boys of Mighty Barrolle.
About Emmanuel Mensah:
Mensah was among the nine referees among the 12 referees accepted by FIFA Referees List 02022 after LIFRA in November 2021 nominated 12 referees from Liberia comprising six Assistant Referees for inclusion in the 2022 FIFA referee life.
Before than Mensah performance over the years earned him a promotion to Class A referee in February 2021 and was later on given a bigger task in 2022.
Since joining LIFRA the 28-year-old Mensah has appeared in all major competition on the domestic scene and has had a little bit internationally experience since earing his FIFA-Badged.
Here is the full officiating team for the Orange Cup final between Watanga FC and LISCR FC.
Referee: Emmanuel Mensah (FIFA-BADGED)
Assistant Referee 1: Ephraim W Grant (FIFA-BADGED)
Assistant Referee 2: Tracy Chayee (FIFA-BADGED)
Fourth Official: Moses Johnson (ELITE)
Assessor: Isaac T. Z. Montgomery (Former SG – LFA)
MC: James Wakie
Few games officiated by FIFA-BADGED Referee Emmanuel Mensah
October 20, 2022 (ATS)
◇Cece United vs. H/Eleven
October 27, 2022 (ATS)
◇LPRC Oilers vs. Bea Mountain
November 6, 2022 (Tusa Field)
◇Freeport FC vs. Mighty Barrolle
Orange Cup (Quarterfinal)
March 23, 2023 (ATS)
◇Invincible Eleven vs. Nimba Kwado FC
March 25, 2023 (ATS)
◇LISCR FC vs. Mighty Barrolle
April 2, 2023 (SKD PP)
◇Heaven Eleven vs Watanga FC
April 9, 2023 (Tusa Field)
◇LISCR FC vs. I.E.
April 17, 2023 (Nancy B. Doe)
◇Sandi FC vs. Bea Mountain
April 22, 2023 (ATS)
◇Jubilee FC vs. Mighty Barrolle