FC Johansen knocked out of ARS Western Area Tourney as Bureh FC expelled for fielding over aged players
The Airtel Rising Star final regional tourney in Freetown kick-started with much excitement passion even before a ball was kicked; Junior FC Kallon Freetown and FC Johansen are arguably the two biggest clubs in youth football in Sierra Leone and many observers here in Freetown were expecting these two clubs to be separated. But unfortunately for those fans who had want to see these two youth footballing marvels that have traversed across the world playing in Europe and elsewhere in the ARS western area finals were disappointed when the draws set both teams against each other in the opening knockout match of the ARS western area tourney.
News spread of the clash of the youthful titans like wildfire in the harmattan and FC Kallon wasted no time to impose themselves on the match. Hassan Bah came close with a close header that struck the side bar and bounced beyond goal, however Hassan Bah made no mistake in the ninth minute of the first half when he slotted a follow up ball after Johansen’s Abdul Sahr Jimera failed to clear properly giving FC Kallon the vital lead.
Sierra Leonean football icon Mohamed Kallon was present at the opening ARS Western Region to watch his young FC Kallon team take on FC Johansen
The Kallon boys exploited on their early dominance and exerted more pressure on a much younger Johansen side and in the 26th minute Joseph Mansaray FC Kallon made it 2-0 by converting to goal with a scissors kick a beautiful cross from midfielder Hassan Conteh, FC Johansen later threatened a great comeback by striking the bar and forcing a beautiful save from FC Kallon’s goalie Lamin Sesay.
That was the story of the match, FC Johansen are out of the ARS Sierra Leone tourney and FC Kallon look set to dominate. FC Kallon’s Musa Kallon star of the match said they took the match as a final because they knew FC Johansen are a very good side: “You can never underestimate a side like Johansen, they are a rock solid set up, they play as a team and are dangerous moving forward so created a system that played to break them in the middle and starve their forwards. With that we attacked them with ease and got the early goals which we comfortable defended,” he said.
FC Johansen owner, Mrs Isha Johansen couldn't believe her etes as her team sank to the might of FC Kallon
The opening day second match saw FC Bureh defeating Neighbours FC 1-0 after Lansana Momoh opened the scoring with a magnificent free kick from 35 yards giving Bureh FC the lead, sadly for them it didn’t count as the organising committee heeded a complaint of over aged players in the Bureh FC squad by eliminating them from the competition meaning Neighbours FC proceed despite their loss.
Even the rain and muddy conditions couldn't dampen the excitement of the ARS Western Area opening day
Meanwhile, in the first match earlier, FC Pizzo defeated Kelly FC 1-0, Pizzo Ibrahim Conteh scored the match only goal from the spot after FC Kelly defender, Peter Mbayo deliberately handled in the box.
Sierra Leone International Football Academy (SLIFA) and Wilberforce Strikers fought it out in the last match of the day and that encounter ended 2-0 in favour of SLIFA. SLIFA Augustine Doe had a day to remember after he scored two vital goals for his team and stole the star performer of that match.
Two boys and one girl team in the Western Region ARS will eventually qualify for the national finals of the ARS to be held at the National Stadium from the 20th to the 25th of this month, four players (two boys and two girls) will be ultimately selected for training in Manchester United football school in Tanzania. Teams and individual players will also scoop special performance awards.
Muctaru Wurie
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