32 Teams Battle In French Embassy Tourney

At least 32 Football teams in Monrovia were last Saturday named as finalists to battle for supremacy in the second edition of the French Embassy football trophy. The competition’s first match is expected to see the American Bar Association (ABA) sort things out with the Embassy of the Republic of Mali.

According to the draw, round one of the competition will continue with International Standard Industry (ISI) going all out against Royal FC, the Liberia National Police (LNP) is said to be gearing up for her debut against the Senegalese Embassy in Liberia and Haidaii FC faces the Arm Forces of Liberia (AFL).

Other actions will see BC Harbert versus Georgia Arsenal, Kailando FC versus Super Stars, Caldwell All Stars versus Professional Stars, T. Hiskers Defenders versus the Embassy of the Republic of Niger and Senior Professional versus HAEEA FC.

The rest of the finalists in the French Embassy’s football league are, Ducor FC versus Chuku FC, the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Liberia versus the Embassy of Gabon in Liberia, Fouta FC versus HAFEIA Academy, Selvontas FC versus Mighty Controllers and UNMIL versus Renault FC.

Boss Alantic meets Kassir FC to mark her first game of the competition, while the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN) closes the first round with the Embassy of Guinea. The league gets under way on October 2, 2010 and is expected to last until 26 December 2010.

Mathurin T. Monsia, General Secretary of the Planning Committee of the French Embassy Trophy (FET) told a New Dawn Sports interview shortly after the draw at the weekend, the process was very fair and was witnessed by a representative of each of the 32 teams. Monsia explained that the new French Ambassador accredited to Liberia Jack Gerard has doubled the participating teams to 16.

He further told this paper, the first and second rounds of the tournament is scheduled to be played at the Air-Field Sports pitch in Sinkor, while the semi and grand final matches are set for the ever ready Antoinette Tubman Stadium in Monrovia. The winner of the first edition of the French Trophy walked away with US$200.00.

The prize for 2010 champion of the competition is told, will receive a cash prize of US$600.00, a giant size trophy, four sets of jersey and a football. The budget for this tournament is a little over US$14,000.00, for referees indemnities, field rentals prizes and awards among others.

Last year 16 Schools and the French community in Liberia participated in the first edition of the soccer jamboree which is intended to bring together members of the International Community, Foreign Diplomatic Missions and Liberians.