By Kemoh Sesay
Belgium Sellers were held to a 1-1 draw by Magazine Community at the opening match of the Central One Football Association (COFA) inter-community league at the Parade Grounds in Freetown.
Alieu Kargbo of Belgium Sellers opened the score line in the 35th minute after a brilliant build up from the midfielders. Magazine Community fought hard in the second half and finally got an equalizer in the first five minutes of the second half when Musa Kamara unleashed a 25-yard shot to score from a rebound ball by Million Sesay.
Coach Issa Kamara of Magazine Community was impressed with his boys’ performance although they came from behind to get an equalizer in the second half.
“I want to extend my thanks to the technical team and friends of Magazine Community who came together to persuade fans to storm the Parade Grounds,” he said.
But head coach of Belgium Sellers, Sylvanus Caulker, said they were supposed to have won the match. He blamed his boys for wasting good chances which should have been converted to goals.
“It is an opening match. It was always going be a tight match. Let me thank my boys for the performance. We are here to defend last season’s trophy. We are going to maintain that to the fullest,” he promised.
Chairman of COFA, Sammah Sesay, told Politico Sports that the inter-community league had been an annual event in the central community meant to bring communities together in the name of football.
He said this year’s competition was limited to one team per community. “We want to make the game very much attractive at community level. We don’t have sponsors at the moment but we expect some as the competition progresses,” he said.
Fan of both teams said they were happy for the commencement of COFA inter community league, an opportunity to watch their local talents.
