Lowcost are crowned champions of the maiden edition of the Late Alhaji Unisa Alim Awoko Sesay memorial inter community football competition after beating Kuntoloh 4-2 on penalties to win their first finals in the history of the team.
The game started with a high pace in the first half as the midfielders and attackers of either side were eager to break the deadlock, but it settled for a stalemate (0-0) after 90 minutes.
Strikers of both communities were dangerous on the attack, however they failed to utilize clear-cut chances to separate the two teams in the match with the goalkeepers playing pivotal roles to avoid conceding goals to keep their teams on the safer side.
Foday Suma, Abu Sondo, Simeon Karku all converted their penalty shots to give Lowcost the much deserved victory, Kuntoloh’s first two shots were placed out of goal area when Santigie Conteh hit the cross bar and goalkeeper Sieh Shama Bangura remarkably saved Alpha Sesay shot to ensure Lowcost bags the Le25 million prize money.
According to the furious Kuntoloh fans, the penalty kicks went too fast. They can’t imagine how Kuntoloh’s first two penalty takers, Conteh and Sesay missed on the shootout with all the experience. They’ve won two finals before this one on penalty kicks.
In a happy mood, Simeon Karku, one of Lowcost most influential players, said they should have won the match in the first half with all the chances they created, but the final was destined to end the way it ended.
The attacking midfielder hailed his teammates for the tireless courage they exhibited to achieve their dream of defeating the mighty Kuntoloh with all the bunch of high profile players they produced to play his side Lowcost. “Kuntoloh is a mature team. They have plenty of quality players, but today is our day and we’ve eventually won the trophy”, he said.
Kuntoloh’s Head Coach, Brima Saio Koroma conceded the defeat, blaming his boys for not making use of their chances which should have given them the advantage to win the competition.
The Coach lamented, “We played well, but my boys were too casual especially when they are on the attack. They kept losing the ball so easily upfront and allowed our opponents to mount pressure on us. Football is all about chance, when you have clear chances make use of it, but they failed to take that into consideration”.
Coach Brima Saio consoled his players, noting all is lost as they have two more competitions to play. With commitment and love for the game they will ensure to make their fans proud as they hope to win at least one trophy.
By Magdalene S. Konneh
Wednesday November 22, 2017.
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