Published: October 17, 2024
MONROVIA — Belgian coach Ivan Minnaert kicked off his tenure at FC Fassell in style, leading the team to a commanding 3-0 victory over Bea Mountain on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS).
Josiah Cea’s first-half brace set the tone for the match, with Terry Sackor securing the win in the second half with a stunning finish. The game marked the start of the 2024-2025 Liberia Football Association (LFA) First Division League.
Minnaert, who signed a contract with FC Fassell until 2027, has been tasked with delivering the league title. After a 21-day training camp in Egypt and a pre-season tournament in Grand Bassa this September, Minnaert’s team looks poised for a serious title challenge.
To bolster his chances of success, FC Fassell management enlisted Moroccan physical trainer Diffaa Hassani Al Adidi, while also strengthening the squad with key signings such as Moroccan midfielder Mustafa Zerzif and Gambian goalkeeper Ahmed Tejani Savage. Additionally, former Liberian internationals Zah Rahan Krangar, Tonia Tisdell, and Solomon Grimes have joined the team, adding experience and depth to the roster.
The victory on Wednesday also marked FC Fassell’s return to Liberia’s First Division after a four-year absence. The club was relegated in 2019 after a disastrous season in which they suffered 11 defeats and conceded 48 goals during the league’s first phase. At that time, Civicus Barsi-Giah was club president, while chief financier and owner Cassell Kouh was serving a seven-year jail sentence in the United States for his involvement in a $40 million investment fraud scheme. Kouh, released in 2023, has since announced his intention to run for the LFA presidency in 2026.
In other matches on Wednesday, Mighty Barrolle suffered a crushing 7-0 defeat at the hands of hosts Doris Williams Stadium in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County. Shaita Angels were beaten 2-0 by Free Port FC at the Nancy B. Doe Stadium in Kakata, Margibi County, while defending champions Watanga FC fell 1-0. Paynesville FC had earlier secured a 3-0 victory over Global Pharma at the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) Sports Complex. Discoveries FC edged Black Man Warriors 3-2, and Invincible Eleven (IE) held LPRC Oilers to a 1-1 draw at the TUSA Field.
This emphatic win marks the beginning of an exciting season for FC Fassell and their new coach, as they aim to reclaim their place at the top of Liberian football.
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