By S. Siapha Mulbah
The reigning champions of the Liberia Football Association’s National First Division league, Liberia Shipping and Cooperate Registry (LISCR) Football Club, have been shaken and reshelved to a lower spot following the loss of two games in a row.
As the national league draws to a close, with six remaining games, the reigning champions, who occupied the second-place position on the league table for the past three weeks, have been pushed two steps down, making way for Paynesville and Heaven Eleven Football Clubs to close the gap on Watanga in first place.
On a mission to defend the national league title, LISCR and other clubs have played more than half of the league season with some good performances, but the last two matches did no go the best way for the Shipping family.
In round 19 and 20, the Shippers lost to the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC) Oilers and the Kallon Football Club respectively, in a period less than one week. Losing two matches for the Shippers further dampens the hopes of the champions on retaining the topflight championship.
On Thursday, February 29, 2024, the Oilers in Gardnersville collected all three points at the expense of LISCR, after winning 2-1 at a well-attended game that took place at the Tusa Field.
During that encounter, Oilers came from a goal down to win, with goals from Terry Sackor and Prince Nanakpallah.
LISCR captain Sheku Sherriff converted a penalty in the first half to lead 1-0, but the club’s lone goal was not enough to celebrate after fulltime ended 2-1 against the champions.
The following Sunday, March 3, 2024, the Shippers opened a new chapter and football month with many fans and supporters hopeful of stunning one of the bottom place clubs, Kallon FC, in round 20 of the competition, but their quest turned sour after falling to a 1-0 defeat.
Kallon FC, after being purchased by Liberian football enthusiast, Cassell Kuoh, lost its first match after the conclusion of the deal 4-0 to Bea Mountain in round 19, at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex Practice Pitch in Paynesville.
Fans described Kallon’s loss as a disappointing start for Kuoh’s reemergence in Liberian football after many years, and cautioned the club to pay the efforts of the sponsor by collecting wins and other results that will save their participation in the topflight the next season.
As a sign of resonance to the past fixture, Kallon collected all three points against LISCR in match 20 to level points with Invincible Eleven, who are seated fourth from bottom with 19 points and a game in hand.
