On Wednesday, November 29, 2023, a friendly encounter in both kickball and football between Margibi and Rivercess Counties settled to a well entertaining draw at the famous Nancy B. Doe Sports Stadium in Kakata, Margibi County.
The match was one of the many preparatory methods deployed by the two counties’ authorities for the upcoming December 16, 2023 National County Sports Meet, to have the players and technicians tested for the tasks of making air waves in the nation’s biggest traditional sporting festival.
In kickball, the girls from Gibi and their Cestos counterparts of Rivercess County played to 5 homes apiece to draw in the holiday showpiece in the city of Kakata.
Margibi County featured several key players, including new players Grace Jimmy, Ivanna Zoudia, Grace Varney, and Mary Moses. The team also included few old faces, including the likes of Patience Gonkor, Ecelia Saydee, and Myriah Zuo.
Rivercess featured few new signings like the former Margibi and Nimba Counties player, Marcken Gibson, Princess Kortuwah, long serving player Seta Johnson, among others.
In the football category, Timothy Flomo of Margibi County top tier third division club, Africa Sports Academy, struck in the early minutes of the match to provide a 1-0 lead for the home side at halftime.
The early goal motivated Margibi County to maintain a pressuring pace against their opponents, all through the first half, to lead fans and supporters to a half way jubilation in their back yard.
After the recess, the boys from the Gibi Mountain, missing several golden opportunities, overturned the pressure against them despite a 1-0 lead. The visitors’ later introduction of Joshua Garway resulted in a redeeming goal in the 78th minute of the second half. The equalizer for the Cestos Boys settled the match in the favor of both counties, as all things ended in a one-all draw during the full 90 minutes.
It was the first time both teams of Margibi County shared points at the open-air Nancy B. Doe Sports Stadium in Kakata, in the build-up to the 2023/2024 National County Sports Meet.
Margibi County played two test matches at home with the kickball and football teams, winning one and drawing one.
Margibi defeated Bong County in both kickball and football friendlies at home on November 26, in a return leg, after both teams played at the David Kuyon Sports Stadium in Gbarnga, Bong County on November 19.
At home, Margibi County defeated Bong County a narrow 5 home runs to four in kickball, while in football, Margibi County defeated Bong County 1-0 through an early minute goal in the first half.
In the first leg held on November 19, at the David Kuyon Sports Stadium in Gbarnga, the Kpatewee Girls of Bong County suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to the Gibi Girls. Both sides played to a goalless draw despite a red card reduction that affected Bong County.
In total, Margibi County played three matches in both kickball and football. Two at home and one away, and still yet to taste a defeat at home or away.
Margibi County is the host County of Group D, with Lofa and Grand Bassa Counties, while Nimba County hosts Rivercess, Bong, and Grand Kru Counties of Group C.
This year’s edition of the nation’s most watched sporting festival, the National County Sports Meet, is expected to kick-start on December 16, in Fish Town, River Gee County.
Montserrado, Margibi, and Nimba Counties, are the other host counties for the preliminary rounds of the 2023/2024 National County Sports Meet.
The National County Sports Meet is a Knockout tournament which is under the supervision of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, in collaboration with the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The Liberian National County Sports Meet is the top traditional knockout tournament of the Liberian traditional football inaugurated in 1956.
Maryland County won the first edition of the tournament.
Lofa and Nimba Counties won the last edition of this annual national sports tournament in kickball and football respectively.
