GANTA, Nimba – All now seems to be well with Nimba’s football team to participate in the 2017/2018 National County Sports Meet, and a friendly encounter with Montserrado has been set for today, November 29 in Ganta.

The Mountainous Boys of Nimba have been undergoing series of training sessions under caretaker coach Ambra Dahn in Sanniquellie. They are expected to test their strength with Montserrado for the first time at the Ganta Sports Field.

“We are conducting these test matches to see our level of preparation so far and how we stand as we prepare to go to the county meet,” Dahn said.

The county’s superintendent had initially said the county was facing financial challenges, leading to an uncertainty on whether Nimba would be represented in the biggest sporting competition in the country.

The county has not detailed how it intends to finance the team’s participation in the County Meet, but the team has been conducting test matches, a signal that all is well on course to have the team fully ready for kick off on December 9.

Besides securing finances to participate in the sporting event, Nimba also has to figure out its coaching dilemma. For the past three years, Nimba has failed to win the football trophy of the tournament under the guidance of former coach Muta Fofana. After many criticisms from the public, Fofana announced his resignation as head coach of the team.

Since then, his assistant coach Ambra Dahn has been in charge of the team. However, a week ago, Fofana had requested to take charge of the team and many Nimba leaders seemed willing to allow that to happen. However, Fofana has since taken up an appointment as head coach of Margibi, prompting many Nimbaians to call for Dahn’s permanent appointment as head coach.

“Ambra [Dahn] has been showing interest for the team and even going to the extent of conducting training sessions for the team in Sanniquellie,” Nelson Korquoi, an executive member of the Nimba County Sports Steering Committee said. “It would be better that he be appointed as the head coach for Nimba County team.”

In addition to the county’s football team not having a coach, the Nimba County Sports Steering Committee currently lacks a chairperson. The county’s administration is expected to name a new chair and a head coach in the next few days.

Featured photo by Arrington Ballah