MONROVIA, May 30 (LINA) – The Slipway Sports Pitch in District#8, Montserrado County was a scene of jubilation as Saye Town and Bassa Community were crowned winners of the District# 8 Peace and Reconciliation Tournament.
Saye Town community was crowned winner of the football category after defeating Clay Street community two goals to zero, while Bassa Community won the kickball trophy by defeating McDonald Street community four home runs to three.
Speaking during the official presentation of awards to winners of the 2022 edition of the District#8 Peace and Reconciliation Tournament, Representative Acarous Moses Gray extolled participants for their cooperation in the month-long games.
He lauded the organizers, players, community residents as well as media practitioners who provided coverage of the program from the beginning to the end.
The District#8 lawmaker expressed excitement over the manner in which inhabitants of the district composed themselves during the tournament and urged them to continue such good working relationships for the growth and development of the district.
The tournament was contested by 25 communities where trophies in both football and kickball categories were awarded to deserving winners based on their performances during the event.
Winners of the football category – the Saye Town Community – bagged L$500,000 in cash prize while the Bassa Community was awarded L$250,000
Clay Street received L$150,000 as second prize winner in the football category while the McDonald Street Community received L$100, 000 as second place winner of the kickball category.
Also, the 10th Street Community was awarded L$75,000 while Clay Street again got LD50,000 as prize for the third place in the football and kickball categories respectively.
In addition to the cash prizes, trophies were presented to the first and second place winners in both categories with an addition of two full-year scholarships to the Most Valuable Players and the most disciplined players of both football and kickball categories.
The scholarships will see the two enroll in any University, College or High school in District #8, Montserrado County.
“Our duty is to take responsibility to help to educate the young people,” the District #8 lawmaker said as he awarded the scholarships to the two captains of the participating communities.
It can be recalled on April 14, at the presentation ceremony of the sporting materials held at the Capitol Building in Monrovia, Rep. Gray stated that the tournament is intended to unite inhabitants of the District as a means of pursuing developmental activities for the common good of the district and the country at large.
“You know soccer brings people together and unites them, it unites people not just at the various levels of the community but also as individuals through interpersonal interactions,” Rep. Gray noted.
In addition, the District #8 Lawmaker pointed out that the tournament is void of political affiliation and takes into consideration every political, religious, economics and social backgrounds in the District.
“The tournament is not on the basis of being a CDCian to participate; it is not on the basis of being an opposition to participate. The tournament is on the basis of being an inhabitant of District #8, Montserrado County.
“It doesn’t matter who you support or who you don’t support. Our mission and objective during this period of Legislative Engagement with the peoples consistently and continuously,,” the District #8 lawmaker emphasized.
Meanwhile, Rep. Gray puts the budget of the tournament at US$26,000 which, according to him, is spread into various components, including media and publicity, awards, medical team, among others.
Matches in the tournament were officiated by referees of the Liberia Football Association and all logistics were being taken care of by the office of the Representative.
Ibrahim A. Sherif
