By Barrie Alpha
The 18th edition Camp DIVA Youth Championship tagged “The Mohamed Gento Kamara Trophy” will kick start its second round knockout stage one (the Round of 32) on Thursday 6 March 2023 between BBB FC and Williamtonians FC at the Kroo Bay community.
Forty (40) teams participated in the group stage of the competition which started in February. Thirty-two (32) teams will battle in the second round knockout stage one (the round of 32) wherein 16 teams will qualify to the second round knockout stage two (the round of 16), while eight teams will make it to the quarter finals, later four teams will go to semi finals and the eventual winners will battle in the anticipated grand finale of the Mohamed Gento Kamara Trophy.
According to the chairman of the Camp DIVA Youth Football Association (CaDYFA), Charles Carew, the 18th edition Camp DIVA Youth Championship “The Mohamed Gento Kamara Trophy” is a success so far, taking into consideration the games are playing without any confusion and the spectators are making a huge turn up into the Kroo Bay community field.
‘We really appreciate the spectators and the supporters for not only coming to the Kroo Bay field in huge numbers but also the way and manner at which they comported themselves during and after every match. The matches are very competitive and the officiating was well appreciated by everyone, the competition is a success so far,’ he said.
He noted that Camp DIVA is very proud to honour the popular Freetown Mayoral aspirant Mohamed Gento Kamara by dedicating the 18th edition championship as a way of expressing his community’s appreciation to the former Leone Stars Team Manager who happens to be the Vice President of East End Lions FC.
Carew underscored that on October 2022 Mohamed Gento Kamara assisted the residents of the Kroo Bay Community by rehabilitating two major steps within the community and its surrounding and further promised to construct the bridge that connects Kroo Bay and Kingtom communities.
‘As one of the most deprived communities in the Freetown Municipality we are really impressed with the highly respected, result-oriented and unassuming Mohamed Gento Kamara, who is presently constructing the bridge for us. The construction of the standard bride is in the finishing phase.
‘These are the type of people Sierra Leone needs. The bridge was poorly built by Save the Children and it was unfinished which left the people of both Kingtom and Kroo Bay communities stranded for over a decade now, but after we explained the importance of the bridge to Chief Gento he assured us and now the construction of the bridge is 95% done.
‘The people will give our overwhelming support, demonstrating to the extent that will speak volumes of a forgone endorsement by majority of the people residing in Kroo Bay community so in that regards, we are grateful to him and we are proud to dedicate this tournament which is attracting thousands of football supporters to Chief Mohamed Gento Kamara,’ he said.
The league continues today with Camp Soko set to clash with Addo FC, while Bololo United FC entertains Walpole Strikers FC in the final group stage match on Wednesday April 5 and BBB FC will face Williamtonians FC in the second round knockout stage one opener on Thursday.