MONROVIA, LIBERIA-The 26th Edition of the most popular sporting event in Liberia, the National County Sports Meet, will be climaxed Sunday, January 31, 2021.
Lofa County, one of three counties yet to win the title, will go against two time winners Montserrado County in a “fateful” fixture at the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) Sports Complex in Paynesville.
The two counties will be meeting for the second time this season (year), after they earlier played each other in a 0-0 draw in the group stage at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium.
Many fans that enjoyed the performances of the two teams in other fixtures were disappointed in both counties for a show in that Group A game, that resembled match fixing.
This time around, there will be nothing of match fixing as the winner on Sunday will record history for themselves and people of the county by taking home the giant size trophy, plus one million Liberian dollar cash prize.
Lofa County are into their first Grand final since losing to Gbarpolu County 2-1 in the 2004 final, and are hoping to end their trophy less run in the competition by winning this year.
There has been huge moral support from citizens of Lofa County to the team this year, with Momo Cyrus, the Steering Committee Chairman, and Jefferson Koije, Mobilization Head, carrying out massive awareness which attracted many, putting Lofa County as the top favorite to win the competition this year.
Lofa came close last year to winning the title, but fell to eventual winners, Grand Kru County, in the semis, while Montserrado County who won the title back-to-back between 2017 and 2018 failed to make the last eight falling to progress from the group stage.
The two counties remain unbeaten in the tournament this year, after playing five games each with Lofa County keeping three clean sheets, scoring six goals and conceding twice on their way to the final, while Montserrado County have netted in eight goals, conceding five and keeping two clean sheets.
The two sides can boast of talents that can lift the title on Sunday, but Lofa County seems to be many people’s favorite to taste glory this year.
Montserrado will rely on Nimba Kwado strikers, Alloy Brown and Musa Jabateh to damage Lofa County on Sunday, but the defense partnership between Opilando Kaikula and Lawrence Wilson for Lofa County could thwart the treats from the Montserrado County forwards. Lofa attackers James Tarpeh and captain Sheik Sesay will keep the Montserrado County defense busy to keep the match entertaining.
James Tarpeh, Sheik Sesay, Musa Jabateh and Alloy Brown will not only be fighting to lift the title for their respective sides, but will be hoping to the get individual awards like the MVP award that contested by the names mentioned.
The coaches in the two teams dugouts add more flare to the entertainment, as Montserrado County Coach, Korvy Kollie (a son of Lofa) who has reached his first County Meet Final dreamed to add his name to coaches who have won the competition, while Lofa County Coach, Samuel Sumo (also a son of Lofa) who guided Montserrado County to the two titles they won, wants to show Montserrado County what they have missed in him as a manager.
The SKD sports Complex promises to be the hottest spot in Liberia on Sunday, when two of this year’s County Meet favorites battle out for the biggest trophy in the land.
Who becomes champions is anyone guess, but Sunday January 31, 2021, will be recorded in the National County Meet history as one of the intriguing moments, when the day will bring down the curtains of the 26th Edition of the National County Meet, which was marred by lots of dramas, including the Montserrado County barefooted entry to the stadia and claims of match fixing and protest cases and the overturn of the red card to Lofa keeper Vinah Smith.
By: Kolubah Zayzay
