By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay
So here we are again, about to watch two teams built with grit, resilience and swagger. They are meeting again to sweep us off our feet. They are both separated by distinct style and a single point. This is the story of the greatest derby in today’s football in the country: FC Kallon versus East End Lions.
When these two teams meet, forget about points and forget about forms. Whichever team plays better wins the day. When they met just over two months ago, what was at stake was a top spot on the table. On Saturday what is at stake is the league title itself. Every dribble and every tackle will cost each team money, fame and perhaps the title.
The stakes are high. This is the one game where glory, revenge and the title are all on the line. A football game cannot be more important than this.
FC Kallon’s momentum
When FC Kallon eviscerated Mighty Blackpool last week; they played with so much swagger that we haven’t seen in a long time. The 2-0 result against Blackpool meant they have now won two games in a row; Ports Authority and Mighty Blackpool. They must complete the trio by beating East End Lions, or all those two wins could count for nothing.
FC Kallon, commonly known as the Cavalians, are coming into this game in impressive form. The difference between their form now and when they faced the Killers last time out, was that they went into that match bruised after a hard-fought draw with RSLAF. Eventually that affected them when they faced Lions.
This trip they are coming into this game with 6 points in the last available six. And those points came against very tough oppositions. The good thing for them is that the players have blossomed. Everyone in the squad have had game time, so much so that it has affected the team’s consistency at times.
Secondly, FC Kallon players had stage fright against Lions. With a stadium packed over its normal capacity, the young stars just didn’t have the nerve to hold their own under such pressure.
Their best players got missing in action. To win on Saturday, the usual suspects must step up and take the game by the neck.
FC Kallon are like a well-oiled machine of efficiency, style and swagger. If a part of that machine underperforms, it tells on the whole team.
On Saturday there is no margin for error, that well-oiled machine must perform. Everybody must be on top of their game.
The Killers
How do you play 20 games in a league and remain unbeaten? It’s a feat teams in this country will struggle to achieve for decades to come.
Lions did not get here by mistake; they have carved their way through hard work, strength and never say die attitude. Lions are an embodiment of resilience. This team is also a blend of beauty and ruggedness.
On quite a few occasions they have grinded out some results which will end up deciding whether they will win this league. How they held on against RSLAF. How they came late to beat Eastern Tigers and how, with 5 minutes on the clock, almost condemned to defeat, they rose and refused by scoring that late equalizer.
Sheer defiance! This has been their story, close calls.
See the numbers
If statistics are anything to go by, then here they are. But history has shown us that stats can be useless in big clashes like this. The factors that decide games like these are hunger, appetite and emotion of players and fans, all bundled together.
Just one point separates the two teams in 1st and 2nd spots on the table. They have both won the same amount of games: eleven. And FC Kallon have just lost one game in the league. They lost this then to East End Lions.
FC Kallon have won 7 out of their last available 9 points. Lions have won 9 out of their last 9 available points.
FC Kallon have scored 27 goals whiles Lions have scored 25 goals.
Once again, forget the numbers. This will come down to who wants it more. Who is more dogged? And who is shrewder?
What will decide this game?
There is no clear-cut answer to this, but watch out for some individuals who might want to carry the day. The electrifying pace of the twin brothers [Alhassan and Alusine] of East End Lions might be a factor. They have been phenomenal in keeping Lions on top of the table.
Emmanuel Samadia and Abu Komeh will be key for FC Kallon. Make sure Samadia gets the ball and he get them in the right positions. If he keeps supplying Komeh, then there will be goals.
Good thing about this Kallon team is that everyone can score. Their goals are scattered all across the team.
The question about bad refereeing still looms. There has been a huge debate on whether to come with foreign referees or not. But the Head of Media and Marketing at the FA, Ibrahim Kamara, told Politico: “Local referees are responsible to handle the local league.”
That aside; the crowd will be electric. Hosts, Lions have raised the prices of ordinary ticket by 200% percent. A ticket that costs Le5000 will now be sold Le15, 000.
The pump and the noise surrounding the build-up has been massive. One just must pray for a great weather and a great game to match up with all of this.
For all the hype about this game, it is important to note that any of these two teams can win this game and still end up losing the title. Yes! That is how stiff the challenge is.
Lions are yet to play Mighty Blackpool this second leg and FC Kallon still have to go to Kenema to face Kamboi Eagles. But take no focus away from this game, it is important.
At end of the day the Cavalians need to kill the Killers to get to the title. In doing so they will be getting glory, revenge and possibly the title all together.
The Lions though will not wait for them. They are top of the table and from that position they can see the title just in front of them.
Game on!
© 2019 Politico Online
