The defeat of the Lions of Lofa County at the hands of the Leopards of River Gee County during the final of the 2023-2024 National County Sports Meet at the Samuel Kanyan Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville on 5th May, 2024, in the wisdom of sports analysts is an indication that the game is gradually moving away from the conformist thinking that huge population leads to victory rather than skills on the field of play.
I have practiced journalism on the national scene since 1991, beginning with the Vanguard Newspaper (defunct) in Buzzi Quarter, Monrovia, Liberia. However, during all of these years of extensive practice, sports writing has never been part of me.
While working at the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS)from 1998-2019, it was the late Zogar Jaynes who made me to sit in for a sports reporter who was not on duty during the 7:00PM newscast. It was between 2004-2005, if my memory serves me well. After contributing two human interest stories to the production being referenced, he asked me to stay around in order to present the sports news. I am drawing in all of these points to simply let my numerous readers know that I may not be in a suitable position to provide in-depth analysis on issues of this nature. Notwithstanding, I beg to be given the chance for my voice to heard through this medium.
Lofa, no doubt is one of Liberia’s populated political subdivisions. The Leopards and the Lions contested for the trophy of the 2023-2024 National Sports County Meet, in a match that saw players from the two sides put up great and brilliant fight. The Leopards found the curtain raiser in the 10th minute of the first half to mark their first major step toward wining the trophy. However, the Lions never rested until they saw the equalizer. As if the pains caused River Gee by the catch up were not enough, they got additional one, making the total score 2-1 against the Leopards. However, with the eyes of the Leopards red, hot and intimidating set on the promised Land, the boys of River Gee reconsolidated by netting in their second goal just few minutes to the close of the second half through a header.
Cutting long matter short, as the typical Liberian would say, the full 90 minutes and an additional time of 30 minutes ended without a winner.
The boys of River Gee, vilified by many football analysts as underdogs in the competition or an unknown finalists in the history of National County Sports Meet in Liberia, made history when they dragged Lofa County in the mud during a five -five penalty shootout.
The Leopards hit the back of the net with all four shots, while Lofa wasted one,as the goalkeeper of River Gee saved another one. Within no time uncontrollable jubilation overtook the entire S.K.D. Sports Complex, and in fact across Liberia, especially in several slum communities,highly inhabited by members of the Grebo Ethnic group. In fact the jubilation rose across Montserrado County to the Southeastern Region of the country on the basis solidarity. These jubilations went viral on the social media.
Small Boat Sinks Big VesselsThose still think big populations make the game need to begin seeking a fallback position in terms of how to continue with such argument.
From a chronological perspective, let’s look at the gains of the Leopards during the competition:
- On Saturday, April 27, 2024, the great River, rough, aggressive and uncompromising, overflowed its banks at the Samuel Kanyan Doe Sports Complex and fearlessly dispatched Bong County home in a 2-1 victory.
- The second scenario is the fall of Grand Bassa County (2-0), another populated political subdivision of Liberia at the S.K.D. Sports Complex on Wednesday, May 1, 2024.
- Today, River Gee, though a very small County is the current champions of the 2023-2024 National County Sports Meet after humiliating Lofa, another Liberian political subdivision with huge population.
With respect to the force with which the boys of River Gee County engaged their opponents during the games, aren’t those who blackened River Gee during the competition realizing that the variables are gradually changing on the playing pitch?
The point that I wish not to challenge is that the participation of populated counties in these games plays a key role in revenue generation for the institutions that organize the matches (gate intake) etc.
Two Coincidental Variables To Take Note Of
History repeated itself during the NCSM 2023-2024, though with no attempt for the author to dwell along any negative path.
1.Putting it blunt, River Gee faced another county that has produced a sitting President of the Republic just in this year’s final just as the case was in 2009, when we clashed with Bomi County, while Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, a daughter of Bomi was President of Liberia at the time. During that match, the Leopards lost to Bomi County by 2 goals to 5 at the Samuel Kanyan Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville. However, before being defeated by Bomi County in that final, River Gee County humiliated Bong County 3-2.
By 2009, River Gee was 9 years old and did not therefore have the needed communal and financial foundation, solid enough to shoulder a lot of responsibilities by itself. Besides, disunity was tearing the county apart owing to political reasons. Remember that a house divided within itself cannot stand. Fifteen years later, River Gee, from the start of the current competition kept all hands on deck before walking away with the trophy.The Leopards Matching Majestically Foundation For River Gee’s VictoryIn preliminary engagements before entering Monrovia, the Leopards locked horns with neighboring Grand Gedeh in the opening fixtures on 15th April, 2024, in Fish Town. The game was a one-all draw. As part of the preparatory stages, the Leopards also took on Maryland County on 17th April, 2024 in Fish Town City and got her first win by defeating Maryland 2-0.
Still determined, she put up another fantastic fight to mark the final group stage and walked over Sinoe County in Fish Town with 2-0 on 20th April, 2024.
These great strides paved the way for our team’s victory today.
The team put up what other sports enthusiast described as a superb display of sports-related fireworks despite being tongue-lashed by critics and football pundits for being a “small County and having no history of being a routine finalist as far as the history of Liberia’s National County Sports Meet reflects.” Contributing Factors To The Victory
The first and foremost is that I would like to recognize God and I am sure that every well-meaning River Gee citizen agrees with me. For this reason, I strongly believe that God has set this time for us to win the trophy, considering how far we have come through His grace. I am not however suggesting that the other counties do not believe in God. As for us, we see it morally obligatory to acknowledge our Creator.
The second thing I see as another contributing factor to River Gee’s victory during the games is what I will describe as the exceptional financial support that came in from citizens of the County as well as other prominent Liberians who saw it expedient to stand by and with us.
As for me, I am not part of the County’s Sports Steering Committee, but as usual, this is part of what I owe to River Gee from time to time.
Every time I follow developments in some of the chatrooms of River Gee citizens, I’m moved by the figures I see. This may be less than what other counties usually raise. However, my experience shows that the current developments appear to be the most concerted in our county meet history. Several years back during a fund raising rally in Clara Town, where I served as MC, our County did not could not receive such financial support.
The third point I wish to highlight is unity among our citizens, especially at the levels of the River Gee Legislative Caucus and the local leadership.
I wish to thank all those who supported the Team, through prayers, financially, morally and all other positive steps that gave us the Trophy. My appreciation also goes to other concerned prominent individuals who came in on the basis of regional solidarity, others from diverse backgrounds across Liberia who stood by us through their contributions during the competition.
RecommendationAs a prominent citizen of River, I have made efforts to sit with key organizers of the Steering Committee in order to share with them some of the ideas I have on mind, but all of my attempts, including phone calls and text messages were ignored.
However, I wish to suggest that we have two different celebrations for the Trophy:
- In Monrovia where some of our citizens are based and another one in Fish Town, River Gee County.
- During the celebrations, special recognition should be accorded great man and women of River Gee, who whose sweat and toil gave us the County for which we are proud today. This should include others who made remarkable contributions toward the creation of River Gee but are currently resting in the great beyond.
About the Author:
Jacob Parley, a professional Liberian journalist is aformer member of the River Gee for County Publicity Committee and former Publicity Committee chairman of the River Gee 2016 National National Independence Day Program of which River Gee was named as one of the host counties.
Contacts: +231777604576/886560455
Emails: jacobtheancestor@yahoo.com/jacobnbparley1@gmail.com
WhatSApp: +231881336137
