The influence of sports is not just to develop good healthcare or athletic endurance, it is also to unite people while giving them a sense of team work, leadership, while providing competition zeal for young athletes.
In 1956, the Liberian Sports Association organized the nation’s top knockout county tournament, the Liberian National County Meet. The tournament has over the years hosted competitions varying from football (soccer for men), basketball for both genders, track-and-field for both genders, and kickball, the nation’s own local sport played by females.
The Liberia 2019/2020 County Meet officially sponsored by Orange Telecommunications hosted two categories: male soccer and kickball. Football as usual carried more momentum and for the first time in Liberia’s history, local musicians came together to create theme songs to cheer forward their counties. Lofa County was the first as Kobazzie, C.I.C, Stunna, and Barsee came together to create “We Ready Oh”, followed by “Nimba Goal” from Boifatty featuring Buckay Raw, and later ”Victory” by Grand Kru written by Takun J, Da Vero, JB, TeddyRide and amongst others.
If music could determine the winners, Lofa county would have won the competition, but their theme song was of no help as they lost third place to Maryland County in a 1:0 defeat.
During the Nation’s Meet final, held at Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports (SKD) on January 26, 2020, rumours from fans allegedly accused the President of Liberia, George Manneh Weah for trying to bribe the match officials in favor of his county of origin, Grand Kru. The story started when the president decided to pay both counties a visit few days before the final. Angry and frustrated fans stated that it was wrong for the president to visit Nimba’s players, and that he had no good intentions.
Grand Kru and Nimba both have the highest results in the Nation’s Meet with both counties winning the trophy on four occasions. The derby between them was bound to be historical, but no one could have predicted the result to end in chaos.
During the first half of the final, the referee, Hassan Cornen awarded Grand Kru a penalty, and he was later backlashed for his decision. During the second half, tension broke through and the match adjudicator walked out of the field during the game. The game later resumed moments later, and Grand Kru was awarded with another penalty. Angry fans invaded the pitch and the players of Nimba County forfeited the game by walking out.
Fans from both counties later expressed their frustration through social media with hopes that things would be better manage during the next nation’s meet. In kickball news, Lofa County beat Bong County for the third place, and the Margibi won the final after beating rivals Grand Bassa.
