By S. Siapha Mulbah
The National Port Authority (NPA) Anchors have, for the first time in the National League, collected all straight three points from an opponent since their promotion to the top flight in September.
They were introduced to the first league after winning one of the top three spots in the last season of the second division, alongside Paynesville and Global Pharma Football Clubs.
As a new topflight team, the Anchors played more than half of the 2023/2024 league season without getting a single taste of victory, with 13 rounds played in the first phase of the season.
On Sunday, February 4, 2024, during round 16 of the Liberia Football Association National First Division League, the magic of celebration fell upon the players from the winless side as the NPA boys took the biggest win of the weekend when they defeated Nimba Kwado 5-1.
The result after full time of the weekend clash greeted many football fans with astonishment at the Tusa Field in Gardnersville, as many followers of the league wondered ‘how could a weak bottom of the table team wake up to a relatively strong fixture?’ a question that remains unanswered.
The Anchors were described as weak because they had a very long quest to have a win against any club in the competition, a period spanning from last year September to this February before finally emerging on top.
The club, up to present, sits at the bottom of the national league table with five points after 16 league matches, and are regarded as one of the first teams that could be considered for relegation if they do not improve on the table with other fixtures at hand.
During the first phase of the league, the Anchors managed to secure two draws against Invincible Eleven football club and the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company (LPRC) Oilers. On Sunday, October 15, 2023, the team recorded its second game point in a one-all draw with Liberia’s traditional sunshine Yellow Boys. Their first draw came against LPRC Oilers on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, in another one-all draw.
Throughout the ongoing campaign, the Anchors have scored the least number of goals (13) and conceded the highest (39), with a goal difference of 26, occupying the last slot in the relegation zone. The zone is shared with Cece United Football Academy with single point margin, and FC Kallon of Liberia on top with 16 points.
