By Patrick N. Tokpah (Bong Contributor)
After generating over US $ 69, 000, the Bong County Sports Association Steering Committee Chairperson, George Philip Mulbah has revealed that the county is indebted to players, technicians, and officials in the tone of US $ 26, 763 for the just-ended National County Sports Meet in Liberia.
The 2022/2023 edition of the National County Sports Meets officially kicked off on Saturday, December 17, 2022, in the Port City of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County the official host of the tournament.
Bong opened the annual traditional sports piece on Sunday, December 18, 2022, against its closed-door neighbor Margibi.
The game ended nil in the first game of the day; while the second game of the day was played between Sinoe and Gbarpolu Counties and it ended 2-0 in favor of Gbarpolu.
Of the three games played in the group stage, Bong won two and drew one thus qualifying as the group runner-up with seven points to Margibi on goal difference.
Presenting a comprehensive report for the 2022/2023 National County Sports Meet to the county authority over the weekend, the Bong County Sports Association Steering Committee Chairperson said the county took 25 footballers in the following categories to the tournament; two-1st Division, three-2nd Division, and 20-3rd Division players as well as 11 football technicians.
In the kickball category 18 kickballers and 7 officials were registered; while 15 basketball players (2 first division players, 3-second division players, 10 third-division players, and four technicians were registered for the tournament.
According to Chairman Mulbah, during the period of the tournament, Bong County received funding from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and some personalities and institutions supported both preparation and the tournament itself.
Mr. Mulbah said with an impressive performance, Bong County’s three sports qualified for the quarter-final stage.
In the football category, Bong beat Maryland 2-1, to secure its slot in the semifinals; while the Kpatawee girls whipped Monsterrado three homes to one.
The Basketball team could not pick up a win against Montserrado after a commanding lead in almost the quarter of the game.
With the wins from the quarter-finals for the kickball and football teams, Bong was knockout of the tournament by Lofa County with the score ending three-one in favor of the Wologissi Boys.
Bong County girls were also beaten by the Nimba girls five home runs to two home runs, in the final game of the tournament, Bong was beaten by Margibi Boys four goals to two in the third-place match; while the Kpatawee girls lost to the Gibi girls two home-runs to one in the kickball category on January 15, 2023, the final day of the tournament.
“All of the technicians in the kickball and football categories were paid for four games and only two games were not paid for. Similarly, the basketball technicians were paid for three games and one game is outstanding for payment.
The amount owed the basketballers for the one game is determined by dividing the group stage total amount by three to get the cost per game,” Mr. Mulbah reported.
He said in the football category, 1st Division players were receiving US$ 150, 2nd division players were receiving US$ 135, 3rd division players were receiving US$ 125, in the kickball category 18-3rd division players were receiving US$ 100 each, in the Basketball category 1st division was receiving US$ 300, 2nd division players were receiving US$ 250, 3rd division players were receiving US$ 225, while head coach for the football category was receiving US$ 300, Kickball head coach was receiving US$ 200, Basketball head coach was receiving US$ 350, noting that some of those payment were made after games played.
Mr. Mulbah said the deputy coach of the football category was receiving US$ 200, Kickball deputy coach was receiving US$150 Basketball deputy coach was receiving US$ 300 among others.
“So we owed US$ 26,763 for all our players, coaches, deputy coaches, technicians and officials. We are appealing to the county authority to make this money available so we can pay players, technicians and officials,” he added.
