Pre-Independence Day Victory: Liberia’s Lone Star Edges Gambia’s Scorpions 3-2

    Caretaker  Coach Kelvin Sebwe Celebrates With Players

Written by Nat Bayjay & Macaulay Sombai

One goal apiece from James Sokoto Roberts, Vetalis Sieh and Michael Macaulay provided for themselves and the entire nation something to smile about ahead of the nation’s 164th National Independence Day as the Liberian senior football team defeated The Gambian national team 3-2 Sunday at the S.K.D. Sports Complex in Paynewsville.

The Lone Star maintained the lead throughout the match to deny the visitors any chances of spoiling the Lone Star’s July 26th celebration as the three local players of LPR- Oilers, LISCR and Club Breweries respectively were enough to secure the victory despite a first-half missed penalty by Lone Star’s Indonesian-based Zah Krangar.



At the well-attended friendly match for which President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf provided 30,000 free tickets for the stadium’s 45,000 seating capacity, the pre-independence day football match was filled with excitements and spell-bound moments throughout the 90 minutes of play as the towering Gambians seemed determined to level the score in the dying minutes of the match.

In a match that featured dominant local players for both sides, two scaring goals from the fighting Scorpions kept the SKD quiet until the final whistle was blown that sent the entire stadium wide in celebration.

Earlier, the host had restored a double lead in the second half following a 1-1 first half draw. The Scorpions pulled another back in the dying minutes but it was not enough to spoil the celebration.

Prior to the match, highly-spirited Liberians in pre-independence day celebratory mode were entertained to a musical festival that featured various Liberian musical artists including Sundaygar Dearboy, David Mell and a lone American based named simply ‘Me’.