Monrovia — Liberia’s biggest sporting event, the National County Sports Meet, kicked off on Sunday, April 14, 2024, across the country at the four host venues with classic matches in both kickball and football.
The much-anticipated event was postponed from December 2023 to April 2024 due to the political transition in Liberia following the 2023 national elections. However, the fans and supporters of the various counties got their money’s worth with a beautiful display of football and kickball.
In Sanniquille, in football, defending champions Nimba County had a tough start as they were held to a draw by Bong County. Nimba drew first blood through Josiah Cea’s strike in the first half, but the boys from Bong County equalized through Pewee Roberts’ effort after mounting pressure on the hosts. Bong’s equalizer increased the cheering from the supporters at Tomah Seh Fylod’s Stadium in the preliminary round of the competition. Despite the defending champions’ efforts to secure a win on home soil, the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
With the result from Sunday’s game, both sides’ next matches will see Bong facing off against Rivercess on Wednesday, April 17th, while Nimba County will take on Grand Kru County in their upcoming fixture in Group C Preliminary Round of the 2023/2024 County Meet.
In the early football match, Rivercess defeated Grand Kru County 1-0 to top the zone. At the Antoinette Tubman Stadium in Monrovia, Bomi County defeated Grand Cape Mount County 2-1 in the Group B Opening Match. Watanga Football Club winger Chauncy Freeman scored the fastest goal in the competition so far when he put Cape Mount County in front at the start of the game. His goal came within 16 seconds of the match starting, with Grand Cape Mount County having 6 touches on the ball against Bomi County. Jonathan Freeman cancelled out Chauncey’s goal to end the first half 1-1, and back from the break, Bomi took the lead and held on to their 2-1 lead until the end of the match.
In the late kickoff, host Montserrado County collected all three points from Gbarpolu County in a 2-0 win at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium. Lewis Slewion’s lone goal was enough to give Sinoe County a 1-0 win over Maryland County in Fish Town, River Gee County, while the host River Gee played out to a goalless draw with Grand Gedeh County. Grand Bassa and Margibi County shared the spoils in an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Nancy B. Doe Stadium in Kakata City, Margibi County.
In kickball, Rivercess dumped Grand Kru County 7-0 with home runs, while Nimba beat Bong County 10-1 with home runs. In Group A, the girls of Maryland secured a 1-0 home run win over Sinoe County, while the host River Gee beat Grand Gedeh County 2-1 with home runs. At the Antoinette Tubman Stadium in Monrovia, host Montserrado County suffered a 2-1 home run defeat at the hands of the girls of Gbarpolu County. In the last match, Bomi County defeated Grand Cape Mount County 5-2 with home runs.
The competition will continue on Wednesday in River Gee County, Montserrado County, Nimba, and Margibi Counties.
