Golden Stars & Bintumani Queens win Airtel Rising Stars regional tournament in Kono

Two teams from districts in the northern province of Sierra Leone Golden Stars of Tonkolili and Bintumani Queens of Koinadugu are the newly crowned champions of the 2nd U-17 Airtel Rising Stars regional tournament Kono version at the Koidu Community field on Sunday.  (Photo: Golden Stars players celebrating with their trophy)

The two teams have now qualified to join Saint Lewis Rangers and Mahmoud FC (both of Western Area region) to compete in the  Airtel Rising Stars tournament national finals to be staged in Makeni early next month.

Golden Stars put up an impressive performance against home team Sangafullay to win the grand finale of the boys’ category 3-0 and in the girls’ section Bintumani Queens defeated Nimikoro Queens of Kono 4-2 on penalties after goalless at full time in a jam packed field decorated with Airtel colourful red and white colours.

The Tonkolili side completely dominated their match from all angles of the field and were undoubtedly deserved winners. Prince Solo Marah opened the scores in the 15 minutes when he headed home from the box a cross from the left.

Striker Gibrilla Kamara got the second and third in the second half. He dribbled in to the box and release a thunderous shot in to the net before finishing up a nice build-up from the midfield to register his second goal of the tournament making him the competition’s highest goal scorer in the boys category.

Sangafullay were drafted in to play in the final as replacement for another side from Kono Professional FC who were disqualified for using over age players.

As expected new stars were spotted in both categories. Nimikoro Queens’ 14 years-old Bondu Kamara was named the most outstanding player in the female category to the applause of the crowd at the Community filed. Some of her team mates and some players of the Bintumani Queens were also impressive throughout the tournament.

Attacking midfielder Umaru Fofanah of Sangafullay who was named the best male player of the tournament as well as few of his team mates and some players of Golden Stars were spotted by the Technical Committee of competition in Kono.

The Airtel Rising Stars regional competition continues next week in Makeni. Teams from Bombali, Port Loko and Kambia districts are to participate in the tournament.

Awards

Boys’ Category

Champions: Golden Dragons (Tonkolili)

Runners Up: Sangafullay (Kono)

Third Place: Professional FC (Kono)

Best Player: Umaru Fofanah (Sarafullay)

Best Goal Keeper: Victor Greywood (Golden Dragons)

Higest Goal Scorer: Gibrilla Kamara (Golden Dragons)

Girls’ Category

Champions: Bintumani Queens (Koinadugu)

Runners-Up: Nimikoro Queens (Kono)

Third Place: Sabereh Sisters (Tonkolili)

Best Player: Bondu Kamara (Nimikoro Queens)

Best Goalkeeper: Fatu Samura (Bintumani Queens)

Highest Goal Scorer: Bondu Kamara (Nimikoro Queens)

Male

Final  Sunday 15/07/12

Sangafullay FC (Kono) 3-0 Golden Stars (Tonkolili)

Saturday 14/07/12

Golden Stars (Tonkolili) 0-0 (4-2 Pen) Tankoro FC

Rising Sun (Tonkolili) 0-0 Professional FC (Kono)

Sangafullay (Kono) 2-1 Rising Sun (Tonkolili)

Friday 13/07/12

Golden (Tonkolili) 0-0 (7-6-pen) Hill Station (Kono)

Rising Sun (Tonkolili) 1-0 Sanga Fullay (Kono)

Professional FC (Kono) 1-0 Sangafullay (Kono)

Thursday 12/07/12

Jay Maf (Koinadugu- disqualified) 0-1 Me and My Boys (Tonkolili- disqualified)

Golden Stars (Kono) 0-1 Tankoro FC (Kono)

Professional FC (Kono) 2-0 Professional Lions (Kono)

Sangafulay FC (Kono) 1-0 Lamtech (Koinadugu)

Female

Final, Sunday 15/07/12

Bintumani Queens (Koinadugu) 0-0 (4-2 Pen) Nimikoro Queens (Kono)

Saturday 14/07/12

Sabereh Sisters (Tonkolili) 0-0 (3-4 Pen) Bintumani Queens (Koinadugu)

Nimikoro Queens (Kono) 1-0 Nemesedu Rockers (Kono)

Friday 13/07/12

Central Queens (Tonkolili) 0-2 Nimikoro Queens (Kono)

Sabereh Sisters (Tonkolili) 0-0, (2-1-pen) Real Point (Tonkolili)

Thursday 12/07/12

Nemesedu Rockers (Kono) 0-3 Tankoro FC (Kono- disqualified)

Bintumani Queens (Koinadugu) 1-0  Goden Queens (Kono)

Article and photographs by Mohamed Fajah Barrie in Koidu

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