Monrovia-Margibi County’s kickball team has been crowned champions after edging Grand Cape Mount County in a tense and dramatic final of the National County Sports Meet (NCSM) kickball category.
By: Christopher C.Walker 0777898224/0886723075 christopherc.walker@frontpageafricaonline.com
The “Gibi Girls” sealed the title following a 1–1 draw that stretched through seven regulation innings and extra innings before being decided by a nerve wracking shootout.
The final, held at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex, thrilled fans and showcased the growing quality of women’s kickball in Liberia.
A Final Filled with Drama
Played before an energetic crowd, the championship encounter between Margibi and Grand Cape Mount was a true test of endurance, composure, and tactical discipline.
Margibi struck first, securing a crucial run early in the game and holding onto the slim advantage for most of the contest.
Grand Cape Mount, however, refused to surrender. After trailing for long periods, the Cape Mount girls found inspiration in the sixth inning, leveling the score at 1–1 to force the game into extra innings.
Despite spirited efforts from both sides in the additional periods, neither team managed to break the deadlock, pushing the final into a decisive shootout.
As the sun set on the pitch, nerves took over during the shootout. Grand Cape Mount faltered at the crucial moment, failing to reach first base on their attempt.
Margibi, on the other hand, remained composed. Their kicker successfully reached first base, sealing the dramatic victory and sparking jubilant celebrations among their supporters.
With that decisive play, Margibi County was officially crowned the kickball champions of the 2025/2026 National County Sports Meet.
Third-Place Playoff
In the third-place playoff held earlier in the day, Nimba County defeated Grand Kru County 1–0.
A lone run was enough for the “Mountain Girls” to claim the bronze medal, adding another trophy to Nimba’s overall NCSM tally.
Coach Sawmadal: “I Told Them I Wouldn’t Be Defeated”
Speaking to the media after the game , Margibi County Head Coach Dahnjudu Sawmadal expressed pride in his team’s achievement, revealing that he had predicted their success before the tournament began.
“Before the start of the tournament, I told people that I was not going to be defeated,” Sawmadal said. “From the group stage, we took all three points and carried that momentum straight to the final.”
The coach used the occasion to call on his colleagues across the counties to shift focus toward youth development.
“Other coaches need to forget about older players and start using younger ones,” he noted.
“I brought many young talents for people to see and to prove that the youth can deliver.”
Sawmadal further disclosed that the team had less than a month to prepare for the competition but still managed to deliver the ultimate prize.
Addressing the brief protest staged by his players regarding incentives just before the final, the coach described the timing as a “technical strategy.”
“It was a technical strategy to make our opponents feel that our team was unsettled,” Sawmadal claimed.
Victory for Margibi
The coach dedicated the victory to the people of Margibi, expressing confidence that the county leadership would honor their commitments to the team.
“We know the people of Margibi will never abandon us. We believe they will give us our [incentives], and this win is for the people of Margibi,” he concluded.
From a tightly contested final to a high stakes shootout, the Gibi Girls proved they possessed the talent and composure to rise when it mattered most, etching their names into the history of Liberia’s most prestigious sporting event.
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