Kiang West District Football Tourney Coordinator: I am satisfied with opening game

Karamo Darboe, coordinator of the GFA organised Kiang West District Football Tournament, has expressed his satisfaction for what he called a successful opening fixture of the tournament currently gathering pace in Kiang West District, Lower River Region.

The tournament, comprising 10 teams and divided into two groups of five teams within LRR, has since Friday got off to an exciting start between Sankandi and Bajana at the Kiang Jiffarong Football Field, an encounter which failed to produce any winner following a pulsating goalless draw.

The two sides entered the weekend’s clash with the ultimate objective of claiming the much vital points of the contest but poor finishing forced them to settle for a stalemate result amid free, fair and fantastic atmosphere around the venue.

However, Darboe, the man tasked with the responsibility of overseeing the affairs of the tournament in LRR, could not hide his satisfaction for the flourishing commencement of the show.

He told Pointsport in an interview with this reporter shortly after the final whistle, that he was completely satisfied to witness a successful opening match of the tournament.

“It was a good match and the players performed well and more importantly, it was trouble-free and the disciplinary aspect is promising,” he said. “We could have started the competition since last month but it wasn’t possible due to some circumstances.”

The participating teams will battle it out in five identified venues, namely Jiffarong, Sankandi, Dumbuto, Jattaba and Sandeng, and a cash prize of D5,000 awaits the champions while that of the runners-up is D3,500, Pointsports can confirm.

However, there will be prizes for the most disciplined team, the most outstanding player, the best goalkeeper, the leading goal-scorer and a compensating package for all the participating teams, at the end of the competition, this reporter, who was recently in his home village of Kiang Jiffarong for the opening game, reliably learnt from officials.

The groupings for the tournament are Group A: Bajana, Sankandi, Dumbuto, Jatta, Kulikunda; and Group B: Niorro Jatta, Wudeba, Batelling, Sandeng and Jiffarong, which is expected to host three matches.

Judging by this fantastic start to the competition, one could be optimistic of a free and fair district tournament and Darboe has cautioned all the participating teams to emulate Sankandi and Bajana in a bid to maintain a peaceful campaign.