Airtel Rising Stars tournament reaches decisive stage

The Airtel Rising Stars tournament Western Area version has reached a decisive stage as some teams will go in to the final day of action on Sunday still in contention to grab the one qualification spot each in the male and female categories for the national finals in Makeni whilst others have lost all hopes.  (Photo: Mahmoud FC are the most impressive female team so far in ARS)

Day three of the tournament was very entertaining as some teams produced fantastic performances in well attended matches at the Brima Atouga mini stadium colourfully painted with the Airtel red and white colours.

The team of the day was Mahmoud FC who scored eleven goals in two matches in the female category with their girls showcasing theirskills.

First to be beaten mercilessly by Mahmoud FC were Rural Queens who lost 6-1 with Magret Sesay scoring a hat-trick. Dorrris Ansumana, Serah Bangura and Rashidatu Kamara accounted for a goal each.

Mahmoud FC won their second match of the day against Hard Rock FC 5-0. Dorris Ansumana and Hawanatu Conteh scored two goals each whilst Rashidatu Kamara netted one. They will face Soccer Queens in the final on Sunday to decide who represent Western Area in the nationals in August.

On their way to the final, Soccer Queens registered two victories in the group stage, they defeated East End Lioness 3-0 on Friday and won by the same score line against Palmer Queens on Saturday.

For the male category, the competition is still widely open. Five teams are still battling for the one qualification spot. They are Real Mack FC, Kei FC, Sunderland FC, Eze FC and Saint Lewis Rangers.

Real Mack FC are better placed to qualify for the final from their group after demolishing Mattia FC 4-0 on Saturday, they only need to get a draw against Eze FC on Sunday morning to make it. Eze on their path need to win to qualify and deny Real Mack the joy of reaching the grand finale.

Mattia FC who eliminated Kallon FC jr. on Friday after producing an impressive performance didn’t continue their fine form on Saturday and their hopes were completely dazed after they were thumped 3-0 by Eze FC and 4-0 by Real Mack FC.

Kei FC are leading the other group with two points from two matches after goalless draws with Saint Lewis Rangers and Sunderland FC.

Saint Lewis Rangers and Sunderland FC face each other on Sunday morning and if it finishes goalless, the three teams including Kei FC will go in to penalty shoot out to decide the winner of the group as all the teams will have two points each with no goal scored.

But if it finishes in a score draw, Saint Lewis Rangers and Sunderland FC will go in to penalty shoot out and Kei FC will be knocked out. If any of the teams win, that team will automatically qualify for the final as it’ll have four points from two games.

Results

Male category

Thursday 05/07/12

Sunderland FC 0-0, 4-2 (Pen) Flexx FC

Wellington United 0-2 Kei FC

Friday 06/07/12

Mount Aureol SLIFA 0-0 (2-4 pen) Saint Lewis Rangers

Eze FC 2-0 Area Best

Kallon FC Jr. 2-3 Mattia FC

Real Mack FC 3-0 Soccer Raiders

Saturday 07/07/12

Sunderland 0-0 Kei FC

Mattia 0-3 Eze FC

Real Mack FC 4-0 Mattia FC

Female category

Saturday 06/07/12

Soccer Queens 3-0 East End Lioness

Hard Rock FC 0-1 Rural Queens

East End Lioness 0-2 Palmer Queens

Sunday 07/07/12

Real Queens 1-6 Mahmoud FC

Palmer Queens 0-3 Soccer Queens

Mahmoud FC 5-0 Hard Rock FC

Article and Photographs by Mohamed Fajah Barrie in Freetown

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