By S. Siapha Mulbah
With a single match remaining to close the first phase of the Liberia Football Association National First Division League, Watanga Football Club stand as the only undefeated team in the ongoing campaign.
The team has played 12 league matches, recording seven wins and five draws. Among the top five teams in the topflight league, the leaders, Liberia Shipping and Cooperate Registry (LISCR) Football Club, have conceded a single defeat, while other teams have been defeated more than once, except for the former league champions, Watanga.
From all indications, the Paynesville giants are poised to repeat the record of the last season’s runners-up, Bea Mountain Football Club. During the 2022/2023 league season, Bea Mountain ended the first phase in the first spot undefeated, a feat Watanga are about to repeat.
To seal that deal, the 2022 league champions will meet the National Port Authority (NPA) Anchors on tomorrow, Wednesday December 13, 2023, at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex Practice pitch in Paynesville, to honor the outstanding round five postponed fixtures for all the clubs.
A win or draw for Watanga in that match will confirm them ending phase one undefeated and further secure their position on the table. They could also enjoy the top spot during the entire midseason break if they win and LISCR fail to beat Heaven Eleven the following day at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium in Monrovia.
A win for NPA Anchors will end their 12-game drought in the league. NPA have played all 12 league games without collecting a single win. Their best results this season have been the two draws they have gotten for the only two points they occupy the last spot with.
Other fixtures in the outstanding round for Thursday are FC-Kallon versus Global Pharma at the SKD Practice pitch, LPRC Oilers Versus Freeport FC at the Tusa Field in Gardnerville, and Mighty Barrolle versus Bea Mountain at Doris William in Grand Bassa.
Others are Nimba Kwado versus Paynesville FC in Nimba County, Cece United versus Invincible Eleven at ATS, and Heaven Eleven versus LISCR at the same ATS.
