Diamond Stars FC Crowned Premier League Season Champions for 2011-12
Diamond Stars FC, sponsored by Kono’s giant kimberlitic mining company, Koidu Holdings, proved their worth of their big season spending, the champions’ medals and “Save the Children” gold trophy of the Sierra Leone Premier League, on Sunday July 22nd,over the weekend.
The eastern Kono District giants thrashed the Freetown City Football Club (FCFC) 2-1 to claim the season long title in the northern city of Makeni’s playing ground where the only representative team of the north, Wusum stars were relegated.
The result placed the easterners to an equal tally of fifty points (50) which qualifies them to be automatically crowned as champions of the 2011/2012 league season.
Kemson Fofanah, a former FCFC player opened the score line in the 39th minute from a spot kick inside the 18 yard box. Later, in the 61st minute, Simeon Kaku of the FCFC was issued a red card for misconduct.
Moreover, second half substitute, Musa Fofanah sealed the lead 2-0 in the 80th minute from an in-swing cross from the left flank. Mark Kamara of the FCFC got a consolation as he converted a penalty spot shot in the 86th, minute as an FCFC player was fowled in the 18 yard box of Diamond Stars.
Closest rivals, for the championship trophy, FC Kallon were held to a 2-2 draw by EE Lions at the football Academy Complex, Kingtom Freetown on the same date.
Meanwhile, the newly crowned champions, Diamond Stars FC have so far become the first provincial team winning the premier league title since establishment in 2001 in a record breaking fashion, like they have done in the just concluded season so far.
In an interview with the winning tactician, Coach Lamin Bangura he told Sierra Express Sports how emotional he was, “I’m delighted over this record broker – being the first provincial team coach to lift the Sierra Leone Premier League trophy”. Coach Bangura thanked his team and technical staff for the achievement and dedicated the trophy to their fans, Paramount Chief and the team’s official sponsors, Koidu Holdings Company.
A quick round up of the Sierra Leone Premier League showdown, fourteen Teams (14) participated in the closing football league season namely Diamond Stars, FC Kallon, EE Lions, FC Johansen, Kamboi Eagles, Mighty Blackpool, Old Edwardians, Ports Authority, Bo Rangers, Central Parade, Gem Stars, Freetown City FC, Wusum Stars and Kissy All Stars. Each team played a total of 26 matches, and the three top positions were snapped by Diamond stars FC, the newly crowned champions, 50 points, FC Kallon Second (2nd) with 47 points, E.E. Lions, Third (3rd) with 41 points.
Wusum Stars of Makeni and Kissy All Stars of Freetown touched the relegation zone in 13th and 14th positions respectively. The charity “Save the children Sierra Leone” is the donors of the gold trophy for this year’s premier league.
Nevertheless, chairman of the premier league board, Victor Lewis issued out a statement that a helicopter was arranged to take the trophy for presentation to the winner, but the helicopter had a flying restriction not to fly by six (6pm) due to bad rainy season weather.
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