By Danesius Marteh, archie2024@gmail.com
Cassell Anthony Kuoh appears unflappable by the traditionalists, who are clearly upset by his splendid organizational skills and groundbreaking initiatives since his return to football.
Kuoh, once again, disappointed his critics when he and his team spectacularly organized the second edition of the Soccer For Peace (SFP) tournament from 12-15 September in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County.
Hosts FC Fassell and Mighty Barrolle of Liberia, Sierra Leone’s FC Kallon and Loto Popo FC of Benin played in a round robin format to decide the champions.
Fassell were declared winners with seven points after a 3-1 win over Kallon on 12 September, a goalless draw with Loto Popo on 14 September and a 2-1 win over Barrolle at the Doris Williams Stadium on 15 September.
Loto were runners-up with five points, having beaten Barrolle 4-0 on 13 September and goalless draws with Fassell on 14 September and Kallon on 15 September.
Striker Ndene Cisse of Loto was named the most valuable player and highest scorer with four goals.
The SFP was well publicized by practitioners from the traditional and social media.
The branding and or visibility was commonplace and medical practitioners were readily available to attend to any problem.
Such was the case when a police officer was taken to hospital in an ambulance with the speed of light in Buchanan when he fell off around the perimeters.
Mrs. Charlene Kuoh, Cassell’s gorgeous and charming wife, Fassell Vice President Newton Campbell (alias Frank Lampard), Tsingtao-Liberia chief executive officer Wilson Nyanneh, Rev. Fr. Harris Fayiah of St. Peter Clever Parish, Stages Queens President and President of the Club Presidents Association (CPAL) Chris Geeplay Weah and Senior Female Professionals President Emmett Stages Glassco were among the very important personalities (VIPs) that graced the tournament.
Others were former Liberia head coach Thomas Kojo, former Liberia Football Association treasurer Jallah Corvah, Determine Girls President Grace Weah (alias Master Queen), Shaita Angels President Benita Urey, Albert Williams (alias Color Boy), Fatine Soclo, Aaron Clinton (alias Spider) and Z. Mulbah Nuwolo (alias Zbillion).
Sponsored by the New Energy Electric Vehicle (NEEV-Liberia), the SFP tournament began with the rehabilitation of the road leading to the stadium.
It was a masterpiece aside from the late withdrawals of Ivory Coast’s Séwé de San Pedro and Benin’s Coton Sport FC due to footballing reasons.
The SFP tournament, which started in 2011, was envisioned as an annual football event to unite the champions from across Africa in a celebration of peace, unity and socio-economic development through football.
It has quickly become a cornerstone event, committed to inspiring change and fostering goodwill through the beautiful game.
So the superlatives will serve justice because big teams came to Liberia for an international tournament, which unshackled and or diluted the spectacle of the CAF men’s under-20 qualifiers in the West African Football Union (WAFU Zone ‘A’), which kicked-off at the Samuel Kanyon Doe sports complex in Paynesville on 15 September.
Fassell will switch their attention to the 2024/2025 Orange national league, which kicks-off in October now that the pageantry is over and the dust has settled.
Kuoh will expect nothing less than the championship crown from Belgian head coach Ivan Minnaert and his ambitious squad, which is packed with talents in all departments, after a 23-day training camp in Cairo, Egypt and a four-day jamboree in Buchanan.
Ivan, who holds a Uefa Pro License, fielded a number of first teams in Cairo and Buchanan with three wins, two defeats and four draws.
And Kuoh will hope Ivan has found a team with a winning mentality to return to the CAF Champions League.
