Monrovia Times

 

January 13, 2016

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By Obediah Johnson Monrovia Times Reporter

 

 

 

 The Gbenzohn boys of Grand Bassa County have finally sailed through to the semi-finals stage of the ongoing National County Sports Meet, following a week long protest hullabaloo filed by Nimba.

 

It can be recalled that sometimes ago, Grand BassaCounty football squad defeated Nimba county 4-2 in penalties shootout to book a place to the semi finals of the competition.
The Gbenzohn boys' chance to meet Bong County in the semi finals was protested by Nimba County on grounds that players Trokon Jackson with jersey number 22 of Grand Bassa County, is registered with a playing card# 12 with the name on the game's sheet as Zizue Kollie, who is a 1st division player for Gardnersville FC, in the 1st division League.

The protest also indicated that goalkeeper Sekou Blayoh - wearing jersey # 1, is a national team player, who plays for Mighty Barrolle, a 2nd division team; and Jerry Wleh (jersey # 3) was banned by the Liberia Football Association(LFA) for double registration with ELWA United and Hope FC.

 

The protest filed by Nimba County, however, failed to also state or make a point why player William Freeman should be considered an illegal player.

But in its ruling released under the signatures of Chairman Moiffee Kanneh and J. Yourvor Kollie, the Protest Committee ruled that the match between Grand Bassa and Nimba counties should be replayed and sanctioned on grounds that the both parties are in violation.

 

But the committee failed to state a specific date for the match between the two counties to be replayed.

The committee also ruled that suspended player Wleh from Grand Bassa County should be disbarred from the tournament, and further actions are taken against him for knowingly deceiving the organizer and County.

 

It (committee) also called for authorities of the Liberia Football Association (LFA) to furnish the County Meet Organizer as to whether or not players William Freeman and Zizue Kollie are qualified to participate in this year annual event based on allegation that these players played in the upper division contravening the Rules and Regulations of the National County Sports Meet.

 

However, Grand Bassa County took an exception to the committee's ruling by filing an appeal to the Appeal Committee of the competition.

In the latest ruling released by the appeal committee headed by outgoing Youth and Sports Minister Lenn Eugene Nagbe, the committee nullified the ruling from the Protest Committee calling for a replay of the match between Grand Bassa and Nimba counties.  

The Appeal Committee indicated that Grand Bassa County is not guilty of any rule or regulation governing the competition on grounds that the protest was filed late by the opposing team.

 

Other members of the Appeal Committee include LISCR President Mustapha Raji, Andy Quamie and Labour Minister Nato Lighe.

The latest report from the Appeal Committee means that Grand Bassa County will now meet Bong County in the semi-finals stage of this year's National County Sports Meet.