The 4th Edition of the Pennoh W. Bestman (PWB) Memorial Football Tournament will officially kick off Saturday April 15, 2023 at the Willis D. Knuckles Sports Stadium the home of Alpha Old Timers in Zubah Town, Paynesville.
According to Liberia Black Star who is the organizer, the one-day sport event is in recognition of Mr. Bestman’s passion and sacrifice in promoting football development among youth in communities.
The memorial tournament will involve four teams, namely; Orange Liberia, Liberia Bank for Development and Investment (LBDI), Liberia Airport Authority (LAA), and Gedeh Old-timers Social & Athletic Club (GOTSAC).
The winner of the PWB Tourney will receive trophy while other teams, including teams participating in exhibition matches, will receive certificates.
“There will also be exhibition matches in kickball and football. Orange Liberia’s kickball team and Girls of Black Star will participate in an exciting kickball match while Alpha Old-timers Sports Association All-star team will play Liberia Black Star on the same day,” said the organizer.
In her words of appreciation and encouragement, Mrs. Agnes Bestman, wife of the deceased Black Star President, noted; “On behalf of me and the children, we want to thank everyone who is involved, and a special thank you to the Black Star organization for annually gathering this program. I know my husband Pennoh Bestman is smiling down on everyone.”
And according to Black Star’s president, Alvin J. Wright, “Pennoh was one who gave himself to everyone he came across; whether you were a football lover or just a regular person. He gave himself to this game and it is only fitting for the game he loves to honor him through this tournament.”
“It is also heart-wrenching that we would be honoring this man on the very same day he left us. April 15, 2023, marks his death anniversary and coincides with his 4th death anniversary celebration. I would like to invite the general public to join us in celebrating this man, this legend in the late Pennoh Wleh Bestman,” Wright expressed.
Black Star’s notable accomplishments occurred during the administration of the late Bestman, winning three Championship titles in one year-LFA National League, LFA Knock-out Championship, and The President’s Cup in 2007.
Mr. Bestman, a former president of Liberia Black Star FC, former Vice President of the Liberia Football Association (LFA), and former Marshall in the Eastern Star as well as a former Senior Warden of Blazing Star Lodge 17, was a passionate football supporter.
He also served as Deputy Managing Director of the Liberia Airport Authority and former Senior Advisor of Alpha Old-timers Sports Association.
“Liberia Black Star is also pleased to extend gratitude to the following sponsors/institutions for their support to the 2023 Edition of the Pennoh W. Bestman Memorial Football Tournament: Orange Liberia, LBDI, WINNERS INC., Liberia Airport Authority (LAA), NETLIB, MANCO, ORAGON Rent A Car International, MegaMart, Eagle Electrical Corp., Alpha Old-timers Sports Association, Tamma Corporation, Hands of Hope-LIB, Blazing Star Lodge #17, eWallie Inc., ADAH Chapter #4, Liberia Football Association, Kings National Beverages, and Gedeh Old-timers Social and Athletic Club (GOTSAC),” the club lauded official sponsors of the tournament.
Past winners of the PWB Tournament include: Liberia Black Star FC, 2020, Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) 2021 and Liberia Black Star, 2022.
In in the upcoming competition, Orange Liberia will take on LBDI in the first encounter, while LAA locks horns with GOTSAC in the second encounter. Winners of the two matches will then meet in what is expected to be a crunch grand final encounter.
At the same time, the organizer, Black Star, will play two exhibition matches with Alpha Old Timers and Orange Liberia in football and kickball respectively.
