The organizers of the National County Sports Meet has imposed a fine of one thousand United States Dollars each on both Grand Bassa and Nimba Counties for what the Ministry described as unsportsmanlike behavior exhibited during the Semi-Finals match at the Samuel Kanyan Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville City on Wednesday, January 12, 2022.
According to Youth and Sports Minister Zeogar Wilson, the ugly behavior by the two teams did not only embarrassed the sporting population but also contravened the spirit and intent of the National County Sports Meet.
He said the ugly situation had the propensity to derail the gains they have already made over the years as a nation and people to sustain and maintain unity and peace through the National County Sports Meet.
Among other things, the National County Sports Meet he stated is a common ground where the feeling of patriotism, nationalism, peace, and unity are encouraged as such, the bad comportment demonstrated by Grand Bassa and Nimba Counties Football teams on Wednesday must be condemned by the sporting populace of Liberia, he emphasized.
The Youth and Sports boss said while they are taken aback at the unsportsmanlike behavior by the two Counties, it has challenged them to pay their respective fines before the games on Sunday adding that a repeat of the said ugly act, will leave them with no option but to disqualify said violator and or County from the tournament.
Minister Wilson used the occasion to urge all participating teams and spectators to commit and submit themselves to adopting the emblematic spirit and intent of the annual tournament, the National County Sports Meet.
It can be recalled that prior to the last semi-final match between Grand Bassa and Nimba Counties, players and technical staff jump into heated arguments and fought over a specific goal post even though the toast from the referee was already conducted.
The disgruntled attitude by the two teams was witnessed by the Chief Patron of Sports, President George Weah on the torch line just minutes away for him to take the official kickoff to begin the match.
With no remorse or courtesy for the leader of the land, the two teams and their technical staff continue their fighting and arguments for about ten minutes which coerced President Weah and his entourage to leave the stadium.
Meanwhile, the annual tournament is expected to climax on Sunday, January 16, 2022, with Lofa going against Rivercess in the kickball grand finals while Nimba will lock horns with Gbarpolu County.
Elsewhere in the third-place category: Grand Bassa will face Margibi in Football and Maryland will battle Grand Gedeh in the kickball category respectively.
