The President of Borough FC Sylvanus Morris has termed as a perfect remedy to match fixing, the launch of the Bettomax Champions Cup.
The pre-season tournament came following the sigining of a three year partnership agreement with the Liberia Football Association intended to showcase the top eight teams at the end of the league season in a highly competitive preseason tournament.
Speaking to our reporter, the Borough Fc President said the move by the sports betting company is a good solution to Liberian football, making reference to match fixing, which has been a challenge over the period.
The investment by Bettomax, he stated, came following a genuine feasibility study by technicians who have been working very hard behind the scenes to see how best to curtail if not eliminate match fixing from the league.
“Bettomax could not have done it any better, we appreciate them for this investment and we call on other companies to do same to ensure that the issue of match fixing is addressed at all levels of the game in Liberia”, he noted.
With the introduction of the tournament, Morris said all teams will be aware and will compete very aggressively because, they are already aware of what is at stick at the end of the league season.
“Going forward, every team will have to fight for their space and ensure they finish in the top eight to ensure their automatic qualification to the Bettomax Champions Cup and this is good way to also encourage competition “, he re-emphasized.
He narrated further that the support by Bettomax to the teams will also be a good start for them, especially if they perform well at the end of the league season.
“Imagine Borough Fc already through to the semifinals of the inaugural edition of the tournament after finishing sixth last season, we now have 3,000usd as part of the support to the tournament by Bettomax and this can begin our preparation as we look forward for more for the team”, he added.
Bettomax, as part of the competition, will give USD$ 10,000 to the winner while the second place will walk away with USD 5,000 and third place 3,500usd and fourth place 3,000usd.
The remaining button four teams will collect 2,00usd each, this means, for now, once you end the league season among the top eight, you have automatically earned for your club 2,000usd with more additions expecting in the coming years, something Morris reemphasized is good room for high competition amongst the teams.
Speaking about Borough Fc performance in the ongoing preseason tournament, Sylvanus, also a former player of the team ,stated that he is impressed, especially with the limited time they had to train ahead of the commencement of the competition.
“We started just a few days prior to the competition and also brought on board new faces, but our performance is very encouraging”, Morris noted.
Borough fc is now top of Group B with six points after two matches played and three goals scored with no goal against.
As she await her last game against Freeport fc on Sunday, Sylvanus said their focus is to top the group and ensure that they battle a weaker side in Group-A in the semi finals.
“We will be introducing some new and young players ,but our focus remains the same, and that is to maintain top of the group”, he said.
When asked about their mission in the tournament, the Borough FC President was hasten to mention that they are taking it one step at a time and are not going to push it.
He, at the same time, disclosed plans in the making for the official launch of the Club following its new name change from Global Pharma to Borough FC.
Mr. Morris indicated that the people of the Municipal Borough of New Kru Town long awaited dream to take ownership of the Club has now come to realization following the change of name and is encouraging them to take proper ownership in all directions especially in financial and other support necessary for the improvement of the team and players in particular.
Morris who praised his current captain and leader of the team Melvin Brapoh for his selflessness and commitment to the team was also quick to announce the departure of few key players from the team to LPRC Oilers namely, goalkeeper Abdullah Koulibaly and Defender Karleo Anderson among others.
He admitted that their departure means a lot to the team as the oil boys are bend on recruiting additional talents from Borough fc, this he emphatically stated was unacceptable.
However, he was quick to add that even with Captain Brapoh being one of Oilers targets, he will not leave because he has the passion and so much commitment to Borough FC.
