By: Jacob N.B. Parley
The Team of River Gee County (Leopards) is at the verge of making history by walking away with the trophy in the ongoing National County Sports rivalries. River Gee is gradually putting up surprises since the commencement of the competition. A lot of football analysts here continue to tongue- shatter River Gee as an underdog in the games on grounds that the County has not proven to be a familiar or routine finalist as far as the history of County Meets indicates.
Since I am not a sports analyst, I have no plans of extending the argument through any hard challenge. However, the Leopards, to the disbelief of many football analysts whipped Grand Bassa County 2-0 at the Samuel K. Doe Sports Complex on May 1, 2024 to book her ticket into the final stage of the competition.
With Lofa County walking over Nimba (2-1) on Thursday, May 2, 2024, to close the page on the semifinal stages of the games, it is now obvious that the Leopards of River Gee will face the Lions on Sunday, 5th May, 2024.
History appears to be repeating itself, but not from the perspective of any negative reflection. Putting it blunt, River Gee faces another county that has produced a sitting President of the Republic just as the case was in 2009, when we met Bomi County, while Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, a daughter of Bomi was President of Liberia at the time.
River Gee, established through legislation on 16th March 2000 as one of the political subdivisions of Liberia became a finalist for the first time in 2009 against another less populated County, Bomi.
During that match, the Leopards lost to Bomi County by 2 goals to 5 at the Samuel Kanyan Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville. Before being defeated by Bomi County in that final, River Gee County humiliated Bong County 3-2.
Fifteen years later, River Gee, from the start of the current competition continues to keep all hands on deck in order to reach to this crucial stage of the 2024 National County Sports Meet.
Preliminary Matches
Setting the stage for the nature of progress being made as we pen this article, the Leopards locked horns with neighboring Grand Gedeh in the opening fixtures on 15th April, 2024, in Fish Town. The game was a one-all draw.
As part of the preparatory stages, the Leopards also took on Maryland County on 17th April, 2024 in Fish Town City and got her first win by defeating Maryland 2-0.
Still determined, she put up another fantastic fight to mark the final group stage, walked over Sinoe County in Fish Town with 2-0 on 20th April, 2024.
These great strides paved the way for our team’s advancement to the quarter final stage at the Samuel Kanyan Doe Sports Complex in Group A.
The Leopards of River Gee continues to put on what other sports enthusiast describe as a superb display of sports-related fireworks despite being tongue-lashed by critics and football pundits for being a “small County and having no history of being a routine finalist as far as the history of Liberia’s National County Sports Meet reflects.”
On Saturday, April 27, 2024, the great River, rough, aggressive and uncompromising, overflowed its banks at the Samuel Kanyan Doe Sports Complex and fearlessly dispatched Bong County home in a 2-1 victory.
Those who strongly believe that huge population makes the game need to ask themselves how come Bong, one of Liberia’s populated Counties is facing its second humiliation at the hands of “little River Gee.”
In another scenario, the fall of Grand Bassa County (2-0), another populated political subdivision of Liberia at the S.K.D. Sports Complex on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at the hands of River Gee should send out another clear signal that the issue of huge population does not necessarily amount to victory. Taking a careful look at the force with which the boys of River Gee County are moving, the variables are gradually changing on the playing pitch. The point that I wish not to challenge is that the participation of populated counties in these games plays a key role in revenue generation for the institutions that organize the matches (gate intake) etc.
Attributes of River Gee’s Successes
There are a number of contributing factors for the successes being scored by the Leopards since the current football competition started this year.
- The first and foremost is that the best of victories in any competition comes from God. For this reason, I strongly believe that God has set this time for River Gee to win the trophy, considering how far we have come through His grace. I am not however suggesting that the other counties do not believe in God. As for us, we see it morally obligatory to acknowledge our Creator.
- The second thing I see as another contributing factor to River Gee’s performance in the ongoing games is what I will describe as the exceptional financial support that is pouring in from citizens of the County. As for me, I am not part of the Publicity Committee of the County’s Sports Steering Team, if any is in existence. However, every time I follow developments in some of the chatrooms of River Gee citizens, I’m moved by the figures I see. This may be less than what other counties usually raise. However, my experience shows that the current developments appear to be the most concerted in our county meet history.
- The third point I wish to highlight is unity among our citizens, especially at the levels of the River Gee Legislative Caucus and the local leadership. Remember, I house divided within itself can never stand.
I wish to thank all those who continue to support the Team, through prayers, financially, morally and all other positive steps that are driving us into the promise land. My appreciation also goes to other concerned prominent individuals from other Southeastern counties who have recognized the importance of regional solidarity.
A Passionate Plead
As the Leopards of River Gee County takes on the Lions of Lofa County in the grand final on Sunday, May 5, 2024, I urge all of us, in the context of regional solidarity to turn out in our huge numbers to cheer our lone representative /finalist to VICTORY.
At the same time, I admonish all of us to guide against tendencies that could create harsh feelings or provoke others because, I strongly believe that one of the reasons for the National County Sports Meet is to promote unity, instead of division.
VICTORY, RIVER GEE VICTORY, BARTEOOO, BARTEE!
The author
The author, a professional Liberian journalist is a prominet citizen of River Gee County
Contacts: +231777604576/886560455
Emails: jacobtheancestor@yahoo.com/jacobnbparley1@gmail.com
WhatSApp: +231881336137
