The long-awaited Liberia Football Association (LFA) national 3rd division playoff will kick off this weekend in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County across three venues.

The playoff, which will run from May 20-29, will see 32 teams from across the 14 counties locking horns in Bassa to fight for five slots that are available for the 2nd division in the upcoming season.

The slots were increased from three to five based on the LFA Executive Committee’s decision to increase the number of teams in the 2nd division from 14 to 16.

Newly promoted 1st division side and champions of the 2nd division, Cece United, Bong Rangers and Pags FC were the three teams that earned the three slots during last year’s edition, held in Bong County. 

Delegates from the LFA and participating clubs began arriving in Buchanan on 17 May for commencement of the playoff. The ceremony, according to the LFA, will begin with a workshop for about 30 participants. The workshop, which is centred around educating sub-committee heads about the upcoming 2022-23 League Season format for 3rd division and community Leagues, will set the pace for the playoff.

The workshop will also focus on the designing of a centralized calendar to be used by all sub-associations. 

Joel Freeman, the competition manager of the football house, provided an overview of this year’s 3rd division playoff and was followed by Grand Bassa County superintendent Janjay Baikpeh, who delivered a special statement announcing Bassa as the host of the playoff to the peace-loving people of Bassa.

EC, Kelvin Bayoh, sub-associations committee chair, EC Tickly Monkoney, Competition Chair, and Emmanuel Cheeseman were also in attendance on the opening day. 

The official kick-off will be on the 20th of May 2022. There 32 teams will be divided into winners and losers categories after the first round of preliminary matches. Three teams will qualify from the winners category, while the two finalists of the losers category will earn qualification. 

Participating Teams:

1. Rivercess- Rivercess FC 
2.  Grand Kru-Chinakaleeh FC 
3.  Sinoe- NPA Anchors II 
4.  Sinoe- Adidas FC 
5.  Rivergee — Finda FC 
6.  Rivergee — Gbeapo United
7.  Margibi– New Horizon
8.  Margibi– FC Quincy 
9.  Maryland– BUSA FC 
10. Maryland– NPA Anchors IV 
11. Lofa– Wologisi FC 
12. Lofa– Mayor FC 
13. Bong– TUSA FC 
14. Bong– KUSA FC 
15. Bomi– United Boomers 
16. Bomi– Blue Lake 
17. Grand Bassa– Gilba FC
18. Grand Bassa– Wee Defender 
19. Grand Bassa– Future Star 
20. Nimba– Nimba Young Controller (NYC) 
21. Nimba– Mighty Enforcer FC 
22. Nimba– Ganta Black Stars 
23. Nimba– Field Side United 
24. Montserrado– Grassfield Athletic Club 
25. Montserrado– Paynesville FC 
26. Montserrado– Down Town FC 
27. Montserrado– Samira FC
28. Grand Gedeh– Sheriff FC
29. Grand Gedeh– Gaye FC 
30. Grand Gedeh– Paris FC 
31. Grand Cape Mount– Tewor FC 
32. Grand Cape Mount– Kula FC