Nimba Set To Repeat History

Two times National County Sports Meet (soccer) defending champion Nimba County is comfortably positioned to repeat history this Sunday, 8 January  after a 2-0 victory on Wednesday against Grand Bassa County to advance to the grand finale.

This year’s sports meet (football and kickball) grand finale is more than just the finishing line to determine the champions. Nimba County’s kickball team started the tournament with an 8-2 homerun lost to Bong County but managed to down Lofa County 2-1 homeruns, which qualified them for the quarter final stage.

Nimba hammered Grand Cape Mount to reach the semi final, and on Wednesday, they whipped Grand Bassa to face Margibi County in kickball this Sunday in the grand final. 

Grand Bassa made it from the group stage after they suppressed Rivercess and Sinoe counties, respectively before moving on to the semi-final when they shamed out Bomi County kickball on Wednesday.

The 2010 National Sports Meet football final brought together Nimba and Margibi, but the ‘Gaykpa’ boys captured the championship with a 2-1 victory after full 90 minutes. Margibi County displayed superb soccer techniques admired by fans, who described the match as the best game among the finals that were played in Monrovia.

Margibi Coach Arab Fofana has assured fans that this time around, they will change the story. “We beat Nimba full team when we met them in the Voter Registration awareness tournament”, Arab noted.

Both counties are missing some of their potential legs that performed mightily last season, but Nimba County recruited more midfielders than strikers.

However, Margibi well built defensive block led by Semon, will have to be on the alert for Nimba’s dangerous attacking midfielder Chappy, who is endowed with the ability to make something out of nothing each time he handles the football.

The county’s Prince Yeaney will be combing the center as he partners with courageous midfielder Theo Nimley and point striker Christian Doe, who is responsible to do the finishing touches.

Meantime Margibi Head Coach Arab Fofana, usually known for his 3-5-2 formation, will be all out against tough and determined Nimba defender Rolando Dahn. He is expected to look up to co-defender Barquoch in right back, while difficult left-footer Galilgo will function wide left.

Meanwhile, Bong County will have to fight to regain their usual third place title like they did in the season before last. Although Grand Bassa went down to Nimba 2-0 on Wednesday, but the ‘Gbehzon’ boys are blessed with more offensive legs than Bong County, who found it uneasy to wage any meaningful attack.

Bong lost to Nimba 1-0, but punished Lofa 1-0 during the group stage in Gbargna, and managed to advance to the semi-final after they sidelined Montserado County from the penalty spot in the Quarter final.

However, Grand Bassa had been netting in some goals since the start of the qualifying stage so they are expected to pose some threats to the defense of Bong in the third place match.

This is the second time in three seasons for both counties to meet in the 3rd place final. In 2010, Bong County defeated Bassa in the third place, but the ‘fufu’ boys said they have surprises for Sunday. In a related development, Bong County basketball team is eyeing the championship that will be decided also on Sunday. 

In the Track and Field category of the tournament, 100, 1,500, 400 and 200 meters champs will be determined on Sunday. Almost all of the counties are represented in the finals.