Liberian Youths Baptized With Fire In Gambia
By Julu M. Johnson, Jr.
Liberia made her return to youth soccer
with a disappointing result against next door neighbor Guinea.
According to a dispatch from a member of
the Liberian delegation, Albert Jaja, Assistant Secretary-General of
the Sports Writers Association of Liberia (SWAL), the Lone Star
Under-17 squad was beaten 3-0 by Guinea on Monday in the ongoing
youth tournament in Banjul, The
Gambia.
The Under-17 international tournament has been
organized to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Gambian President
Alhaji Yahya Jammeh.
Bangoura Bangaly placed The Guineans ahead in the
12th minutes, a score line the Guineans kept until the second half.
Upon resumption of the match in the second half, Liberian substitute
Seh Coleman of Roots FC replied with a close range volley over
Guinean goalie Keita Abdou Aziz.
However, Coleman's effort was not enough to secure a draw as Barry
Pathe and Bah Mamadou Dioulde fired two second half goals to seal
the doom of the Lone Star.
In the second match of the day, the host The
Gambia was back to her winning spree after securing a 3-2 victory
over Sierra Leone. Ousmane Jalloh becomes the tournament's highest
scorer with a hat trick for the host.
The Gambians' second victory has qualified them
for the semifinals which start on Friday.
But all this was achieved after Abdul Sessay and Mohammed put Sierra
Leone ahead with two goals.
On Tuesday, Guinea Bissau became the second team to
enter the semi finals after she defeated Tunisia 2-0. Midfielder
Odair supplied two goals to secure their passage from Group B.
In the second match on Tuesday, which was being
described by soccer pundits as the most entertaining so far, South
Africa overcame Group C leaders Guinea with a 2-1 victory.
The South African Under-17 team, nick-named the
Majimbos, scored the fastest goal of the tournament with a back heel
strike from Themba Ximba in the second minute of the match. Ten
minutes later Barry Pathe, the tournament's second highest scorer,
leveled for the Guineans with a power-right wing volley that beat
goalkeeper Mabokgwanae Jackson.
The Guineans were all waiting for a 1-1 score before
the end of the half before South Africa's man of the match Sadelu
Xulu ran through the physically-built Guinean defense to register
the second goal of the match.
The Tournament got to a flying start on Sunday, July
18, at the country's main soccer arena, the Independence Stadium
located in Gambia's second city Bakau, approximately eight
kilometers from Banjul.
In the opening duel lowly-rated Guinea Bissau
shocked the audience when she pinned Senegal with a 1-0 victory.
Striker Irineu Gomes got the lone goal in the first half.
In the second match, the host The Gambia, backed
by the Newly-signed veteran Ghanaian Fred Osam Doudou secured a hard
fought 1-0 win over West African neighbor Mali. Abdoul Mansare's
late goal was enough to seal the win.
Meanwhile, Liberia finally said bye bye to the
tournament after losing 3-1 to South Africa on Thursday. Sibusiso
Msomi scored first before Seh Coleman equalized. Walaza NT
Tacle made it 2-1 before Msomi got the other.
South Africa has qualified as leader of Group C and is
expected to meet host Gambia on Friday. The Gambia topped Group A.
Guinea Bissau, the Group C leader will meet Guinea Conakry in the
second match on Friday. Guinea qualified as the tournament's best
loser.
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